Supermarkets Reduce Food Waste to Record Level: Only 0.45%
Madrid, donderdag, 5 juni 2025.
The Spanish supermarket sector demonstrates remarkable progress in sustainability, with a significant reduction of food waste to just 0.45%. This is a substantial improvement compared to the previous year, achieved through advanced digital tracking and logistics optimisation. Key achievements include 91.7% waste processing, 22% recycled packaging materials, and a continuous focus on energy efficiency. The sector is strategically investing in sustainable practices, with many companies already using 100% green electricity and reducing their carbon footprint by 16.6% compared to 2019. These developments underscore the increasing commitment of the retail sector to circular economy and environmental responsibility.
Food Waste Reduced
The Spanish supermarket sector has achieved a remarkable performance by reducing food waste to just 0.45%, a significant decrease from 0.6% in the previous year [1]. This reduction was achieved based on a distribution of over 15 million tonnes of food, representing an increase of two million tonnes compared to 2023 [1].
Digitalisation and Logistics Innovation
According to María Martínez-Herrera, Director of Sustainability at ASEDAS, this progress is primarily due to digitalisation in inventory management and logistics improvements [1]. These technological innovations have enabled efficient product processing, even under challenging climatic conditions [1].
Waste Processing and Recycling
The sector has impressively valued 91.7% of generated waste, a slight increase from 91% in the previous year [1]. Regarding packaging materials, household packaging contains an average of 22% recycled material, with the aim of achieving 25% recycled plastic [1][2].
Energy Efficiency and Electrification
In 2024, the sector invested 4.89% of its total budget in energy efficiency measures [2]. Many companies now produce 100% of their electricity from renewable sources, especially solar energy [1][2]. Moreover, the sector has equipped 98% of its logistics fleet with environmentally friendly vehicles and installed over 4,000 electric vehicle charging points [1].
Carbon Footprint Reduction
The sector has reduced its carbon footprint by 16.63% compared to 2019 [2]. Although Scope 1 and 2 emissions have risen by 3% due to store expansion, the average impact per outlet has decreased [1][2].