Europe still discards enormous amounts of edible food — around 132 kg per person every year, according to Eurostat. The retail and distribution sector alone is responsible for about 8% of that total. Reducing waste at this stage is essential to meet the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy goal of halving food waste by 2030.

Innovating with Smart Logistics and Sustainable Packaging

Within the Horizon 2020 SISTERS project, researchers from Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) are collaborating with EROSKI to demonstrate how smart logistics and packaging can reduce waste across supply chains.

Using data from SISTERS’ prototypes — BulkBox and StoreBox reusable containers with built-in sensors, plus home-compostable packaging — EROSKI tested how these innovations extend shelf life and prevent damage during transport.

Insights from EROSKI’s Retail Network

Surveying Retail Managers

A survey of 64 EROSKI store managers revealed a clear appetite for sustainable materials, innovation, and staff training. Compostable packaging, barrier materials, and shelf-life-extending technologies ranked highest in importance.

Ten Good Practices for Reducing Waste

Based on these insights, FEM and EROSKI outlined ten practical actions to reduce food loss:

  1. Donate surplus to NGOs and food banks.
  2. Promote “ugly” or imperfect produce.
  3. Discount near-expiry items.
  4. Use AI tools for stock management.
  5. Monitor and optimise the cold chain.
  6. Train staff in sustainability practices.
  7. Collaborate with surplus-food platforms.
  8. Improve logistics and traceability.
  9. Valorise waste through composting.
  10. Communicate environmental efforts to consumers.

Recognising Leadership: The SISTERS Seal of Excellence

To encourage adoption of these practices, SISTERS is launching a Seal of Excellence for retailers that actively reduce waste. This certification guides consumers toward stores that uphold sustainability and transparency, rewarding continuous improvement in food distribution.

Learn more about the SISTERS Seal of Excellence and how it supports circular retail systems.

Collaboration for a Circular Future

The #WasteLessRetail campaign brings together researchers, retailers, and consumers to showcase how smart logistics and data-driven innovation can reshape retail sustainability.

By combining technical solutions, behavioural change, and policy alignment, SISTERS proves that food waste in retail is not inevitable — it’s solvable.

👉 Follow the progress of the SISTERS project and discover more about the tools transforming European retail.

📈 See how the EU supports food waste reduction at the European Commission’s Food Waste Portal.

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