To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024, what progress it has made towards implementing mandatory food waste reporting by larger businesses. (S6O-04143)

Following the unanimous support for the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024, yesterday, we published the final circular economy and waste route map, which sets out 11 priority actions to drive progress in more sustainable resource use and reducing waste. Actions include developing with stakeholders effective options to implement mandatory reporting on food waste and surplus by businesses from 2025-26. To do that, we will establish an expert advisory group to help to develop proposals. Further consultation and engagement will be undertaken as part of the development of secondary legislation, which will be informed by best practice from existing voluntary reporting.

I think that the Minister is saying, “Nothing yet”.

Significant amounts of good food are wasted in Scotland, despite a cost of living crisis in which people are struggling to feed their children, as well as the significant carbon impact of waste food. Many businesses in hospitality, retail and food production already follow best practice and report their waste and surplus via the Waste and Resources Action Programme, which allows them to save money through identification of wasteful processes, as well as helping them on their journey to net zero.

Delaying until next year the creation of a new advisory group that will take two years to come up with ideas for something that industry is already doing does not reflect the urgency that is required. Is the Scottish Government doing what it so often does on climate matters—setting out bold intentions but failing to follow up with effective and timely action?

I do not accept that we are doing nothing. Ms Slater characterises the action that we are taking in a rather negative way. Given that she worked so closely on the issue before I became responsible for it, she knows that we need to work with businesses to make sure that we do this in the right way.

She mentioned that about 27 per cent of food waste is created by businesses. The WRAP data indicates that hospitality outlets could save up to £10,000 per year per outlet by reducing food waste. We must capitalise on that, but we must work with the industry to ensure that what we put in place is efficient and accepted by the industry, which has so much to gain from such policies.

On food waste and the responsibility of large businesses, although BOGOF—buy one, get one free—offers have largely been consigned to the bin, “buy one, get one half price” offers have not. Does the Cabinet secretary agree that much of that food is not eaten and is thrown away? Would it not be better if businesses and supermarkets simply brought down the prices of single items, particularly for those who live alone, such as pensioners?

Christine Grahame makes a very good point. The latter part of her question indicates that some of the packaged produce on our supermarket shelves is not suitable for those who live alone, and we face a lot of food waste as a result. I hope that supermarkets hear Christine Grahame’s points loud and clear. I am happy to speak to her about what more we can do in the Scottish Government to get the message out and to work with retailers to ensure that supermarkets provide for a range of customers and eliminate food waste at source.

Christmas must be coming, because I find myself agreeing with Lorna Slater. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-biggest emitter of carbon after China and the United States of America. What is the Scottish Government doing to promote the changes that we can all make to ensure that we reduce our food waste and tackle climate change?

It is best to refer Brian Whittle to my initial answer to Lorna Slater. Yesterday, we published the circular economy and waste route map, which sets out the 11 priority actions to drive progress.

We are absolutely committed to reducing food waste to the absolute minimum or eliminating it, and to having a closed loop on the amount of waste that we have more generally in Scotland. I hope that, through the further consultation and engagement that we will undertake in developing the secondary legislation, Brian Whittle will work with me to make sure that businesses in his area are fully involved.