Sustainability 

We work to develop sustainability tools and resources to help the grocery industry reduce waste, understand consumer priorities, increase recycling rates, improve packaging and continue progress toward long term sustainability goals.

 

U.S. Plastics Pact

FMI is a Founding Activator of the U.S. Plastics Pact, which will create a unified national framework for a circular economy for plastics, creating structure, coherence, aligned targets, and associated reporting. The food industry is committed to package waste reduction with 41% of FMI members reporting that they already have clear objectives and implementation timeframes for package waste reduction.

The U.S. Plastics Pact has four outlined targets to encourage bold action:

  • Define a list of plastic packaging to be designated as problematic or unnecessary by 2021 and take measures to eliminate them by 2025.
  • By 2025, all plastic packaging will be 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable.
  • Undertake ambitious actions to effectively recycle or compost 50% of plastic packaging by 2025.
  • By 2025, the average recycled content or responsibly-sourced, bio-based content in plastic packaging will be 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

FMI Sustainability Resources

The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2023

This report provides the food industry with important operational and financial benchmarks, as well as insights into strategic and tactical decisions among both food retailers and suppliers.

Sustainable Packaging Assessment Guide

The playbook provides guidance on topics ranging from material sourcing to design, to end-of-use, with a particular focus on recyclability.

Boardroom Volume 8

This journal discusses food industry supply chain disruption, labor shortages and workforce challenges, technology transformation, changing marketplace and societal dynamics, evolving consumer behaviors, and rising ESG expectations.

State Sustainability Resources

A compilation of state sustainability resources to help members stay abreast of the environmental and sustainability bills at the state and local levels.

Store Level Recycling of Plastic Film and other materials During the Pandemic: A Joint Survey

Developed in collaboration with The Recycling Partnership’s Film and Flexibles Coalition, this survey evaluates recycling programs for plastic films and other materials and best practices for collecting plastic films.

FMI Sustainable Packaging Playbook

This tool can support internal business operations and effective trading partner collaboration regarding sustainable packaging.

Sustainability In the Food Industry: An Evolving Landscape

This 2021 report is a guide to FMI resources relevant to the current sustainability landscape in the food industry.

Messy but Worth It! Lessons Learned from Fighting Food Waste

Tips from foodservice manufacturers, grocers and restaurants leading the way in food waste reduction.

Sustainable Sourcing for High-Impact Commodities

This resource offers top-line information and questions to consider when sourcing products that have sensitive social, environmental or economic impact.
Sustainability Leadership

Leadership

Sustainability Executive Committee
The FMI Sustainability Executive Committee works to identify and prioritize issues for collaborative action; to develop tools and resources to help move the industry forward faster in implementing more sustainable business practices; and to offer insight and recommendations when needed to FMI leadership and board. Open to retail, wholesale and product supplier members of FMI.

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Sustainable Packaging Subcommittee
The mission of the FMI Sustainable Packaging Subcommittee is to create guidelines, best practices and resources to support member interests and efforts on plastics and packaging waste reduction. Open to retail, wholesale and product supplier members of FMI.

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