Swiss save most cheese from loss in country comparison

The cross-DACH study conducted by the Innofact market research institute in collaboration with Danone and Too Good To Go addresses the significance, causes, and possible solutions to the issue of food waste. Regardless of whether it is Switzerland, Germany or Austria, food waste is considered a major or very major problem by the vast majority of those surveyed (83%) - by women even more than by men. The two main problems: food waste is ethically unacceptable and harms the environment.

According to the study, consumers would like better information and more education so that they can use food in a more resource-conserving way in the future. The main demands on the food industry are clear and comprehensible information on packaging, such as the label of the initiative "Often Good for Longer" by Too Good To Go. It encourages consumers to use their own senses and test food for edibility by looking, smelling and tasting even after the best-before date has expired. Three quarters of those surveyed would follow this advice if it were given on packaging in addition to the best-before date. Consumers also want educational materials to be made available to inform them and help them avoid food losses, according to the survey.

Companies and consumers equally responsible

The study results also show that companies are expected to design all processes in the value chain in such a way that only minimal food losses occur. According to the study, around 80 percent expect retailers, restaurants and industry to take decisive steps to prevent food losses. However, a large proportion of respondents see themselves as responsible for food waste (83%).

"The study has shown that expectations of food manufacturers to take action against food waste are very high: Around 75 percent of Swiss people feel that companies have a strong responsibility here," explains Philippe Aeschlimann, Head of Corporate Affairs at Danone Switzerland. "We at Danone naturally want to fulfill this responsibility, because food waste is unacceptable to us - this applies not only from an economic perspective, but also from an ethical and ecological one."

Swiss waste the least cheese

On the whole, there is unanimity among consumers in Switzerland, Germany and Austria on the subject of food waste. But the survey also reveals national peculiarities: In none of the three countries is as little cheese thrown away as in Switzerland. In addition, every fourth person in Switzerland prefers packaged products if this means they can be kept for longer - in Austria, only every fifth person says this and in Germany, too, the figure is lower. In addition, the Swiss interfere less in the affairs of others: Whereas in Germany and Austria almost 50 percent of respondents believe their friends and acquaintances have a duty to do something about food waste, only 36 percent in Switzerland say the same.

Working together against food waste in Switzerland

As a responsible part of the food supply chain, Danone has been actively working to comprehensively address food losses for some time, it said. It has set a target to reduce its own food losses by 30 percent by the end of 2021 and by 50 percent by 2025. The approach, he said, is to effectively prevent food losses along the entire recycling chain and in collaboration with retailers and partners such as Too Good To Go.

Too Good To Go operates the world's largest marketplace for leftover food with its app of the same name and raises awareness of food waste with various campaigns and initiatives. Danone recently joined Too Good To Go's Waste Warrior Brands initiative. It is committed to raising awareness among employees and customers about the issue and enabling them to take concrete action against it, Danone said.

One measure is the labeling of products with the "Often Good for Longer" initiative, which aims to bring about a lasting change in the perception of best-before dates. The best-before date is often wrongly associated with the idea that a product is inedible after it has expired.

"In Switzerland, around a third of food waste occurs in the home, partly because the best-before date is misunderstood. That's why we launched the 'Often Good for Longer' initiative together with industry and retail to ensure a better understanding of the term. It's great to see that this has obviously struck a nerve with the population," says Alina Swirski, Country Manager at Too Good To Go Switzerland. "The study with Danone shows that people see themselves as responsible and want to take active action against food waste. We want to support them in this."

The detailed results of the study can be found here.