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Executive Summary

The amount of food loss and waste (FLW) in Canada is substantial and has significant economic, environmental, and social impacts. This research report looks at pre- and post-consumer FLW generated at facilities in the industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) sector, which includes food processing, food transport, food retail, and food service. FLW in the ICI sector is poorly understood for three key reasons: (a) less ICI data is collected compared with other sectors; (b) a diversity of (often incomparable) data collection methodologies are used; and (c) the data is not typically made publicly available.

This research report identifies, aggregates, and analyzes existing ICI FLW data in Canada, as well as the prevailing methodologies being used to measure ICI FLW. The findings presented in this report can be used by municipalities and other interested parties to support future sustainability and circularity efforts with respect to ICI FLW. With this in mind, the specific objectives of this research were:

1. To understand and elucidate the current state of ICI FLW data collection in Canada in terms of quantitative estimates of ICI FLW and the prevailing methods being used to measure ICI FLW; and
2. To provide recommendations on a standardized methodology for measurement and reporting that can be used to collect and manage ICI FLW data.

Data for this report were collected through a variety of research methods. ICI facility FLW audit data, including quantities and measurement methods, were gathered from Canadian municipalities and waste auditing companies. A comprehensive literature review and jurisdictional scan were conducted to identify ICI FLW measurement methodologies currently being used in Canada, the United States, and internationally. Finally, 30 interviews were conducted with representatives from Canadian municipalities and other interested parties concerned with the ICI waste stream, including universities, businesses, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

The results provide reliable quantitative estimates for FLW in the ICI sector in Canada. Based on a compilation of 614 data points on ICI FLW generation in Canada, it is estimated that waste disposed per employee ranges from 60 to 1,296 kg/year, depending on the industry. Further, the estimated percentage of FLW in the waste disposal stream by subgrouping of businesses within the ICI sector ranges from 6 to 47%. These estimates indicate that the ICI sector disposes of nearly 1,800,000 tonnes/year of FLW.

The literature review and jurisdictional scan revealed two key methodological approaches to ICI FLW measurement: mass balance and direct measurement. The interviews with key parties revealed that although very few had access to ICI FLW data, almost all saw a benefit in developing a standard ICI FLW measurement methodology. Further, all interviewees offered suggestions on what a standard could include, such as comparability, standardized methodologies and metrics, and ease of implementation.

Based on the research findings, this report proposes the elements of a standardized methodology to rigorously define, collect, and report ICI FLW that takes four essential criteria into consideration:

• Scientific defensibility;
• Ease of use;
• Level of detail; and
• Suitability of data for metrics development (i.e., ability to normalize data) for comparability.

This methodology could be used by all business types and would be designed to facilitate comparison between similar generators (e.g., hotels), and also on a like-for-like basis across different generator types (e.g., hotels and grocery stores).

A standard with an easy-to-use methodology could help municipalities and businesses in the ICI sector to measure FLW more effectively, generate more accurate data for estimating the multiple impacts of ICI FLW, and inform circular economy and sustainability efforts to minimize future impacts.