Management Strategies to Reduce Edible Food Waste in Japan

Abstract

This study examines the current state of edible food waste in Japan and the management strategies to mitigate it through food sharing and improved management of substandard agricultural products. Since peaking in 2015, Japan’s edible food waste has been declining, aided by measures such as markdowns, artificial intelligence-driven automatic ordering systems, and relaxed delivery deadlines. The 2019 enactment of the Food Loss Reduction Promotion Act marked a significant policy shift, aligning with the sustainable development goals. However, Japan still faces challenges in promoting food sharing due to insufficient legal frameworks. In contrast, countries like the United States and France have established robust food bank and food loss reduction systems, including legal protection and tax incentives for food donations.

This paper presents the case studies of two Japanese companies: Nessu Co., Ltd. and Exness Co., Ltd. Nessu focused on donating substandard agricultural products, aiming to donate 1,000 tons in 2024. Exness operated a subscription service for delivering substandard vegetables, planning to reach 3,500 households by 2023. Both companies highlight the logistical challenges and the need for regulatory adjustments to facilitate the distribution of substandard products. This study concludes that while Japan has made progress in reducing food loss, further efforts are needed to enhance food-sharing systems and to address logistical and regulatory barriers. Relaxing appearance standards for fresh produce and improving logistics could significantly enhance the utilization of substandard agricultural products, contributing to sustainable agricultural management and food security.