Food waste is where food has past its expiry date and unfit for human consumption.
Costa Coffee works with FareShare, a charity that aims to reduce food poverty and stop food waste in the UK. Food that might have otherwise gone to waste is sent to support vulnerable people across the country.
Michael Gove, environment secretary, said: “Congratulations to Costa Coffee for stepping up to the plate and committing to game-changing action to cut food waste.
“The UK is showing real leadership in this area, and together we will end the environmental and economic scandal that is food waste.”
In 2018 Gove appointed a new Food Surplus and Waste Champion, Ben Elliot, to significantly reduce food waste in Britain. At the moment the UK wastes 10.2 million tonnes of food per year.
Victoria Moorhouse, head of sustainability for Costa Coffee, said: "We are committed to playing our part in reducing waste wherever possible. We have a number of initiatives to ensure there is minimal food waste, which includes, first and foremost, an efficient ordering system designed to reduce waste before it is created.
“We also allow food sold during the last hour of trading that is in date but cannot be sold the following day to be discounted by 50% and empower our stores to make food donations to local charities via our Food Surplus Policy.
“Finally, for those stores whose waste streams we manage, any food waste that cannot be redistributed we send to Anaerobic Digestion, where it is turned into biogas and bio fertiliser.
“We are delighted to be working alongside government to drive change and share best practice, stepping up to the plate and delivering collective action.”