Common Questions
This guide answers common questions for new and existing members about what the Charter means in practice, required resources, data tracking, and member benefits.
Understanding the Charter
What are the benefits of becoming a member of the Food Waste Charter?
There is a clear business case for measuring food waste. Businesses that do so are typically more food efficient. Food waste is a global issue with negative impacts on the environment, society, and the economy, reducing it is a climate action your business can take every day.
What exactly am I signing up for when signing the Food Waste Charter?
By signing the Food Waste Charter you are joining a collective industry commitment, led by the EPA, to prevent and reduce food waste. You will be demonstrating that your organisation is committed to measuring, reducing, and reporting on food waste as part of a structured improvement process. The Charter is voluntary and focuses on continuous improvement.
Is the Charter a legal obligation?
Currently there is no obligation to report your food waste but the introduction of proportionate reporting is being considered in the draft National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap 2026-2028, currently out for public consultation. Signing the Charter demonstrates your businesses commitment to tackling food waste and supporting Ireland’s goal of halving food waste by 2030.
How does my business become a member of the Food Waste Charter?
The 4-step process is simple and involves the following steps:
1. Pledge: Sign the Charter to pledge your commitment. Note: the pledge must be signed at an appropriate senior level within the company.
2. Measure: Measure and track the food waste within your business’s operations.
3. Reduce: Set a target and take action to reduce food waste.
4. Report: Report annually to the EPA on your progress and achievements.
My organisation is not a business - can we still sign the Charter?
Yes. There is an opportunity for organisations that do not produce or sell food and drink but that are active in the sector to pledge support for the Charter as a supporting member. Supporting members need to identify specific actions and potential impacts their support will bring to achieve the goals of the Charter.
Time, Effort & Resources
Will joining create a lot of extra paperwork?
The Charter does require some measurement and annual reporting. Many organisations find that they have much of the information already and when collected it helps identify root causes and inefficiencies, reduce costs, and improve operational performance.
We already have a busy operation. How much time will this take?
You can start with simple measurements and use the Charter tools to build your approach over time. The Charter is designed to support practical action rather than create administrative burden.
Do I need specialist equipment to measure food waste?
No. The measurement templates are designed to work with the waste information that you already have from your waste collector. The most important initial step is understanding your food flows, where waste occurs and establishing a consistent measurement approach.
What resources will we need to sign up to the Charter?
Signing the Charter doesn’t incur any costs and is straightforward process. Reporting takes place annually and the reporting template is short. The commitment to tackling food waste can be easily embedded within existing roles, and the culture of the business.
What if our business operates across multiple sites?
Many organisations start with one or two locations or a pilot programme before expanding measurement and reduction activities across their entire operation.
Measuring & Reporting
What will we be reporting as part of the Food Waste Charter?
The Food Waste Charter measurement and reporting mechanism provides easy-to-use food waste measurement templates based on the sector you operate in. These are available to view here. As well as your annual data we also ask about prevention initiatives and activities that you have undertaken.
What if we discover that our food waste levels are higher than expected?
Understanding the scale and source of food waste is the first step toward implementing improvement and reducing costs. The purpose of measurement is not to judge performance but to identify opportunities for improvement.
Will our food waste data be made public?
No. The Charter requires annual reporting, but any information submitted to the team is handled confidentially and never shared. The reporting processes are designed to support national food waste reduction efforts while respecting commercially sensitive information.
How will my business data be processed?
All data obtained will be handled confidentially within the Charter Team. Overall participation figures and aggregated data may be used to create benchmarks or for national and European reporting purposes.
What happens if we don't meet our food waste reduction targets?
The Charter recognises that reducing food waste is a journey. The focus is on demonstrating commitment, measuring progress, and taking action, rather than achieving a specific target immediately.
Are there penalties for poor performance?
No. The Charter is a voluntary commitment and does not impose any penalties. The emphasis is on learning, improvement, and collaboration. There is an expectation that businesses will report in a timely manner and engage with the Charter in good faith.
Benefits of Joining
We already have sustainability initiatives. Why should we join?
The Charter provides a recognised framework focused specifically on food waste reduction. It is designed to complement existing sustainability programmes and demonstrate leadership within the sector. The annual Forum on Food Waste also provides a unique opportunity to engage with other businesses and organisations on food waste.
How do I convince senior management that this is worth doing?
Food waste reduction is not just an environmental issue. It can deliver cost savings, improve operational efficiency, support ESG commitments, strengthen reputation, empower employees and prepare businesses for future sustainability expectations and regulations.
What support is available after we sign?
Charter signatories gain access to guidance, resources, case studies, and a network of organisations working toward similar food waste reduction goals.
Where can I go for assistance and support?
Sector-specific guidance documents and other resources are available on the Charter website. Enterprise Ireland, BIM, Teagasc, Bord Bia, and Fáilte Ireland support Ireland’s Food Waste Charter. Contact your support officer/adviser within these organisations for more information.
Related Resources
Make your pledge today
Join other Irish food and drink sector businesses and pledge your commitment to reduce food waste now.