Sustainable practices in managing food loss and waste: an empirical study of the UK food supply chain

UK retail firms generate approximately 270,000 tonnes of food waste annually, illustrating a significant gap in research regarding their role in mitigating global Food Loss and Waste (FLW). With one-third of all human food discarded globally, this systemic failure severely impacts environmental sustainability, food security, and climate change. Addressing these complex consequences requires a multidimensional framework that integrates logistics, packaging, and management practices, shifting away from traditional, siloed approaches. Effective operational and inventory management not only reduces waste but also provides substantial cost savings and environmental benefits. Consequently, this study examines sustainable management practices across the food supply chains of UK-based retail firms. Grounded in the Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV) framework, the research investigates how incorporating sustainability into core strategies builds environmental capabilities that drive a sustained competitive advantage. The methodology utilised a systematic literature review followed by 32 semi-structured interviews across five major UK food retailers, conducting in-case and cross-case evaluations to assess pollution prevention practices alongside operational performance. The findings reveal that systemic FLW will remain a chronic issue without fundamental shifts in internal policies governing inventory, back-orders, and facility layouts. Successful reduction depends on transparent collaboration with suppliers and consumers, strategic eco-labelling to mitigate risks, environmentally friendly packaging, and optimised logistics. However, progress is hindered by inconsistent waste reviews, reliance on speculative forecasting, immediate financial pressures, and cultures of overproduction, highlighting a critical need for supportive government regulations. Theoretically, this study expands the NRBV by demonstrating how high logistics costs inflate FLW and complicate inventory optimisation, proving that firms’ ability to develop environmentally sustainable capabilities, which include pollution prevention and product stewardship, is essential for minimising surpluses. Practically, it offers a roadmap for UK practitioners to enhance sustainability via biodegradable packaging and partnerships with food charities, urging retailers to embrace innovation to drastically reduce their waste footprint.