Some 62% of Spanish supermarket operators have a formal strategy in plan to reduce food waste, following on from the introduction of new legislation to prevent, reuse or donate surplus food.
Spain’s Law 1/2025 on the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste came into effect in April of this year, with some provisions set to come into effect in April 2026.
Food waste legislation
According to data presented by industry representative group AECOC and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), in Barcelona, company size largely dictates the level to which firms are compliant with the food waste legislation.
Some 79% of large retailers say that they have implemented anti-food waste strategies, while just 48% of small and medium-sized enterprises have done the same.
In terms of food donation, similar trends are evident, with 83% of large firms currently collaborating with NGOs to donate surplus food, compared to 42% of SMEs.
The study found that companies are largely adhering to the conditions set out in the legislation regarding the handling of surplus food, with nearly half of edible but unsold food donated to non-profit organisations, with 13% going to new product development, 8% to animal feed, and 2.6% to composting.
Of the 150 companies that were surveyed for the study, some 72% said that they were able to quantify the volume of waste across their operations, with just under three fifths knowing the economic cost of those losses.
The average food waste across these companies stands at 0.65% of marketed products, with an estimated financial loss of €0.73 per tonne.
Increased awareness
“In recent years, there has been an awareness of the importance of preventing and reducing food waste throughout the value chain, as well as the economic, social and environmental costs of not doing so. It is an ethical duty to prevent food from ending up in the trash,” commented Ana Rodríguez Castaño, MAPA secretary general for Agricultural Resources and Food Security.
A separate study by AECOC found that consumer attitudes towards the new legislation is largely positive, with 95% supporting the legislation and believing it will tackle food waste in supermarkets.
Some 36% of households say they frequently waste food, down from 40% in 2016. Read more here.
