Global food waste management status and strategic organisational commitment in the hotel and food services sector

This chapter evaluates the status of food waste management policies and strategies internationally. Literature from FAO, UNEP documents, and other relevant authoritative sources was reviewed using a desktop research approach. Though not exhaustive and only preliminary, this chapter observed gaps in strategy formulation at the international level. A lacuna between strategy adoption and implementation at this level that could translate to a lack of commitment at the national level was observed. This chapter also argues that the inconsistent and fragmented approach to food waste management at the international level will delay the realization of Target 3 of Sustainable Development Goal 12, which strives to decrease food loss and food waste per capita by half by 2030. Conclusively, this chapter advocates for hotel and food service organizations to be committed and devise strategies to mitigate the negative contributions and consequences of food waste in the sector.