TAB 促多家知名餐飲品牌公開食物浪費數據與減少目標

股東行動團體 The Accountability Board Inc.（TAB） 近日向麥當勞（McDonald’s）、BJ’s Restaurants 等多家知名上市餐飲公司施壓，要求企業測量並減少食物浪費，並制定明確的目標以應對這一日益突出的環境與經濟挑戰。

Shareholder action group The Accountability Board Inc. (TAB) has recently put pressure on many well-known listed restaurant companies such as McDonald’s and BJ’s Restaurants, requiring them to measure and reduce food waste and set clear goals to address this increasingly prominent environmental and economic challenge.

食物浪費：環境與財務的雙重問題

根據美國環境保護署（EPA）的統計，食物占美國垃圾填埋場廢棄物的四分之一以上。在垃圾填埋場中，腐爛的有機物質釋放出大量甲烷氣體，這是一種對氣候變化影響極大的溫室氣體。EPA 估計，食物浪費是垃圾填埋場中甲烷排放量的主要來源，占比高達 58%。

Food waste: an environmental and financial problem

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food accounts for more than a quarter of waste in U.S. landfills. In landfills, decaying organic matter releases large amounts of methane gas, a greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change. The EPA estimates that food waste is the leading source of methane emissions in landfills, accounting for up to 58 percent.

借鑒行業領導者的成功經驗

TAB 提案強調了行業內的成功案例。例如，星巴克（Starbucks）和百勝餐飲集團（Yum Brands）自 2020 年起開始披露廢棄物的類型和數量，並承諾在 2030 年之前將食物浪費減半。這些領導者的行動為整個行業提供了借鑒意義。

Learn from the success of industry leaders

The TAB proposal highlights success stories within the industry. For example, Starbucks and Yum Brands began disclosing the type and amount of waste in 2020 and have committed to halving food waste by 2030. The actions of these leaders provide lessons for the entire industry.

相比之下，許多企業在這方面仍然滯後。例如，麥當勞在其長達 78 頁的《Purpose & Impact Report》中，僅用一句話提及食物浪費：「與供應商合作，捐贈多餘的食品以支持有需要的家庭。」而針對具體食物浪費數據及減少目標，報告中幾乎沒有涉及。

「雖然我們認可麥當勞在包裝廢棄物管理上的努力，但我們相信，確定食物浪費的具體數據並設立目標，將顯著促進企業在該領域的管理與監督，」TAB 提案中指出。解決食物浪費問題不僅是麥當勞等企業的責任，還是行業整體可持續發展的重要組成部分。對於那些已經採取行動的公司，TAB 鼓勵他們進一步提高透明度，公開具體數據和行動方案。

In contrast, many companies still lag behind in this regard. For example, McDonald's only mentions food waste in its 78-page "Purpose & Impact Report" in one sentence: "Work with suppliers to donate excess food to support families in need." However, there is almost no mention of specific food waste data and reduction goals in the report.

"While we recognize McDonald's efforts in packaging waste management, we believe that identifying specific data on food waste and setting targets will significantly facilitate corporate management and oversight in this area," the TAB proposal states. Solving the problem of food waste is not only the responsibility of companies such as McDonald's, but also an important part of the overall sustainable development of the industry. For those companies that have already taken action, TAB encourages them to further increase transparency and disclose specific data and action plans.

餐飲業：重點監管對象

除了麥當勞，TAB 還向多家知名餐飲品牌提出類似要求：

TAB 認為，這些企業應學習行業內領導者的經驗，積極採取措施減少食物浪費，並公開其進展和成果。

股東行動的影響力

多年來，股東提案一直是推動企業改善 ESG 議題的重要工具。TAB 曾成功推動 Jack in the Box 和 Wingstop 在內的多家企業採取行動，改善溫室氣體排放的透明度和減排目標。今年，食物浪費被列為優先解決的問題。

Catering industry: key regulatory targets

In addition to McDonald's, TAB has also made similar requests to many well-known catering brands:

TAB believes that these companies should learn from the experience of leaders in the industry, actively take measures to reduce food waste, and make their progress and results public.

The impact of shareholder action

For years, shareholder proposals have been an important tool in driving companies to improve ESG issues. TAB has successfully pushed companies, including Jack in the Box and Wingstop, to take action to improve greenhouse gas emissions transparency and reduction targets. This year, food waste has been prioritized.

Prescott 表示，TAB 今年的目標是針對那些在食物浪費管理上缺乏透明度和監督的公司，迫使其正視問題並採取行動。

Prescott said TAB’s goal this year is to target companies that lack transparency and oversight in their food waste management, forcing them to face up to the problem and take action.

Calls to action and future prospects

行動呼籲與未來展望

TAB 呼籲餐飲業者與投資者攜手合作，將減少食物浪費作為企業可持續發展的重要戰略目標。他們建議，企業可以採取以下措施：

TAB calls on catering operators to work together with investors to reduce food waste as an important strategic goal for corporate sustainable development. They suggest that companies can take the following measures:

TAB 表示，食物浪費問題的解決需要全行業的協作和共同努力，而不是單個企業的孤立行動。

TAB said that solving the problem of food waste requires industry-wide collaboration and joint efforts, rather than the isolated actions of individual companies.