Greens Bill Pushes To Stop Supermarkets Binning Edible Food While Families Go Hungry

The Green Party has introduced a Member’s Bill that would require New Zealand’s largest supermarkets to partner with food rescue organisations so perfectly good food reaches people instead of landfill.

“Food is abundant. In a country that grows enough food to feed millions, no one should be going hungry while perfectly good kai is thrown away,” says Green Party Zero Waste spokesperson Kahu Carter.

The Waste Minimisation (Food Waste) Amendment Bill is modelled on France’s Garot Law. It would require the big supermarkets to take reasonable steps to minimise food waste and to partner with food rescue organisations to donate edible surplus food wherever practicable.

“1 in 5 kids live in homes where food regularly runs out. Meanwhile, over 15,000 tonnes of food are wasted in the supermarket supply chain every year.”

“Across Aotearoa, food rescue organisations are already doing incredible work getting surplus food to the people who need it most. This Bill backs them by making supermarkets part of the solution.”

“The problem isn’t that we don’t have enough food. It’s that we allow too much of it to go to waste.”

“France has shown this approach can work. This is practical, commonsense legislation that reduces waste, supports communities and helps keep edible food on people’s plates instead of in landfill.”

“Many supermarkets are already making real efforts to reduce food waste. This Bill helps create a consistent expectation across the sector so food rescue becomes the norm rather than the exception.”

“Less food in landfill also means lower emissions, making this a win for people and for the planet.”

“Hunger is a policy choice. It is time to change the policy settings so that those struggling here in Aotearoa don’t go without,” says Carter.

The Bill was developed in collaboration with Sunday Blessings.