Moving the Middle From Acknowledgment to Commitment

In March, ReFED published U.S. Food Waste Commitment Landscape, a report generated from our Business Services work that examines public food waste commitments across 75 parent companies with significant U.S. operations, spanning Retail, Foodservice Contractors, Quick-Service Restaurants (QSR), and Manufacturing/CPG.

Using publicly available disclosures as of February 2026, we coded each company into one of four tiers reflecting increasing commitment maturity: no mention of food waste, acknowledgment without a measurable target, diversion-based goals including food waste, and quantitative reduction targets. The data reveals a gap between acknowledgment and commitment: Across all companies examined, 73% reference food waste as an issue, yet only 37% have committed to a target to reduce food waste or divert it from landfills. The remaining companies examined that reference food waste but have not committed to a target (Tier 2), which we call "the middle," make up the largest single tier (36% of total companies examined) and have already acknowledged food waste as a distinct topic; the majority have also implemented some type of food donation or diversion program.

This gap presents a significant opportunity to move these companies beyond acknowledgment toward a public commitment to a food waste diversion or reduction target. The following blog explores why companies get stuck and what to do about it.

Why Companies Get Stuck in the Middle

Our research surfaced industry-level factors that shape where companies land across the four tiers, starting with whether they serve consumers directly. Retail, foodservice, and QSR companies all face customer expectations for abundance and choice: stocked shelves, full buffets, a variety of menu offerings.

Beyond industry-specific dynamics, three overarching factors lead companies to get “stuck in the middle.”

• Measurement Gaps: The first step in setting any target, and often the first hurdle that businesses must overcome, is measuring the current amount of food waste generated. As the old adage goes, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Many companies lack the infrastructure to measure and quantify their food waste consistently enough to feel confident setting a public commitment. Diversion and donation data often comes from third-party haulers and processors, which limits a company's ability to verify or standardize it. A growing number of solution providers now support food waste measurement and can help close this gap.

• Accountability Risks: Committing to a public food waste target increases a company's exposure, particularly if the target is time-bound. At the same time, a public commitment signals to peers and customers that the company is prioritizing food waste reduction. ReFED data shows that food waste prevention delivers measurable economic returns, which can help offset the perceived risk of public accountability.

• Definition of Diversion: Setting a target to divert food waste from the landfill is different from setting a target to reduce food waste by a certain percentage. And while both are worthwhile to solve food waste, focusing on reduction will have the greatest financial and environmental impact for a business. But that requires a different mindset and different data needs. Rather than answering “where is our food waste going?” to set a diversion target, companies need to shift focus to “why is our food going to waste?” Fortunately, as with measurement, many service providers offer solutions that capture data and produce insights to help companies reduce food waste.

Moving Beyond Acknowledgment

Just as there are consistent factors that get companies stuck in the middle, there are priority actions they can take to move forward. It’s important to note that while starting with measurement is important, it’s not a linear process, but rather more of a “choose your own adventure.”

• Start measuring. A critical first step to setting any commitment is to measure your food waste and understand your baseline. A “good enough” baseline beats a perfect one that never gets built. Measurement work is often what reveals hidden opportunities to build the business case for prioritizing food waste prevention.

• Get internal buy-in. Companies in “the middle” have already done the hardest cultural work: naming food waste as a business problem worth solving. The next step is getting internal buy-in, which requires translating food waste into dollars. When prevention shows up as reduced waste-hauling costs or lower inventory loss, the case for setting a target makes itself clear.

• Pick a target type. As highlighted above, there’s a difference between “diversion” and “reduction” targets. Diversion-based targets can be a great starting place for businesses to reduce (and eventually stop) sending food waste to landfills. Some common diversion targets are “sending zero food waste to landfill” or “achieving a X% diversion rate.” The ultimate goal is to set a reduction target to prioritize solving food waste in your business, which will help achieve the greatest benefits for your company. The most common reduction target is to “reduce food waste by 50% by [DATE] from a [DATE] baseline.”

How ReFED Can Help

For businesses stuck in “the middle,” ReFED’s Business Services program meets companies where they are and guides them through concrete steps toward setting a food waste reduction target. This includes support with consistent measurement, building a business case, or determining what target fits a company best.

Later this year, ReFED will be publishing a report on “Food Waste Measurement and Reporting Best Practices” to help businesses make progress on measuring food waste. ReFED is building on its insights from collecting data for the U.S. Food Waste Pact to help businesses report food waste in a way that produces actionable data and enables solutions adoption. Businesses need this foundation to set diversion or reduction targets that they feel they can actually meet.

About ReFED Business Services

Featuring custom analytics, capacity building, and advisory services, ReFED’s Business Services team gives businesses the insights and analysis they need to create and execute effective food waste reduction strategies. Drawing from our extensive experience throughout the food industry, we deliver specialized support and recommendations paired with sector-specific insights and best practices. From high-level information sessions that nurture broader understanding to deep-dive facilitated workshops and more to drive operational evolution, our Business Services team is a critical partner for every stage of your company’s food waste reduction journey.