Food waste must be reduced in all parts of the food chain. Lantmännen works actively, from field to fork, for an efficient use of resources and the reuse of raw materials to minimize waste.

It is a fact that too much food is thrown away. At the same time, food production has a major environmental and climate impact and the need for food is great. A third of the food produced in the world never ends up in anyone's stomach. Arable land equivalent to China's surface is used to produce this food waste*. The fact that so much food is thrown away today is a major problem both for the environment, the climate and for the efficient use of the earth's resources.

The UN's Agenda 2030 includes goals, see especially goal 12 Responsible production and consumption, to halve food waste by 2030 in the world. For Sweden, this means a reduction from 45 to 20 kilos per person per year.

Food waste in all parts of the chain

Food waste must be separated from food waste. Food waste is also called unnecessary food waste and is food that for various reasons is not eaten. Food waste is inedible parts such as shells, meat bones and coffee grounds that can be handed over to the waste management company for biogas digestion. It is food waste that needs to be reduced.

Food waste occurs at all stages of the food chain, in production, distribution, shops and at the consumer's level.

What does Lantmännen do?

Lantmännen contributes to reducing food waste by optimising the food value chain and turning the linear use of resources towards a circular one.

An important part of our work to minimise waste is to use resources as efficiently as possible by coordinating our production of food, feed and energy. The raw materials that do not become food are used for the production of feed or ethanol, and in this way almost nothing is wasted.

Lantmännen is also working intensively to ensure that waste that occurs in our processes, and also other producers' processes, can circulate. Recycling of grain-based waste and residues is a natural part of Lantmännen's overall business. We make use of carbohydrate-rich food residues such as macaroni, bread and soft drinks and produce bioethanol from them in our biorefinery in Norrköping. The renewable bioethanol powers vehicles and produces very low climate emissions. In this way, we make use of the earth's resources and create value from food waste.

Lantmännen wants to inspire consumers to take advantage of and take care of their food with advice and recipes. We also try to make it easier for the consumer, for example by offering products in smaller packages that are used at once.

Lantmännen is one of the companies in the Sustainable Food Chain where food waste is a prioritized focus area. Lantmännen also participates in local, country-specific initiatives on food waste. 

*Source: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency