The British Standards Institution (BSI) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) have launched a new international standard aimed at helping organisations systematically manage, measure, and prevent food waste across their supply chains. This unified global framework provides businesses with clear guidelines to identify waste hotspots, improve operational efficiency, and align with international sustainability targets, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goal to halve food waste by 2030.
Food waste is a major driver of global greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. By establishing standardised processes, the new standard helps organisations move beyond ad-hoc reduction measures toward structured, auditable waste-management systems.
For packaging converters in the UK and Türkiye, this development highlights the delicate balance between reducing plastic packaging and preventing food spoilage. Packaging design is a primary tool for extending shelf life; premature food spoilage often carries a far higher carbon footprint than the plastic used to protect it. Converters can use this standard to validate the environmental benefits of high-barrier or smart packaging solutions. Meanwhile, for UK waste management companies, the standard is expected to drive stricter commercial waste segregation and influence how organic waste streams are handled.
A practical takeaway for packaging manufacturers and waste operators is to audit their current waste-tracking methodologies against the new ISO guidelines. Aligning early with this standard will allow companies to provide data-backed evidence of their role in waste reduction, helping clients meet their scope 3 emissions targets.
