Turning Momentum into Impact: Compass Group USA’s Work with the U.S. Food Waste Pact and Stop Food Waste Day

Reducing food waste requires collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to change. In 2025, the Compass Group USA Sustainability team made meaningful progress through our work with the U.S. Food Waste Pact, helping drive measurable impact across the foodservice sector.

This year, Compass was proud to be one of the most active signatories in the Pact, helping lead two groundbreaking pilot initiatives designed to advance food waste reduction in new ways. One of the most notable efforts was the inaugural Low-Waste Events Pilot, which achieved a 55% reduction in waste across participating sites. The pilot demonstrated how thoughtful planning, operational improvements, and strong cross-team collaboration can significantly reduce waste—even in large-scale, high-volume event settings.

Compass also remained committed to data transparency and reporting, an essential component of the Pact’s collective progress. Through consistent data sharing, the U.S. Food Waste Pact was able to confirm an encouraging trend: food waste in the foodservice sector is moving downward. These results show that when organizations work together and hold themselves accountable, meaningful change is possible.

This progress is especially meaningful as we look toward Stop Food Waste Day, Compass Group’s global day of action dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring solutions to reduce food waste. Each year, Stop Food Waste Day mobilizes chefs, associates, clients, and communities to take action—from implementing waste reduction strategies in kitchens to educating diners about the impact of food waste.

The work being done through the U.S. Food Waste Pact directly supports the mission of Stop Food Waste Day: turning awareness into action and scaling solutions that reduce waste across the entire food system.

A special recognition goes to Sally Lindel Funt, M.B.A., a key leader on our Sustainability team. Sally served as co-chair of the Staff Training & Engagement Working Group, where she played an instrumental role in strengthening collaboration across the Pact’s working groups and sector convenings. Her leadership has helped elevate knowledge sharing, engagement, and collective action across the industry. Excellent job, Sally!

As we approach Stop Food Waste Day, we’re grateful for the partnerships, momentum, and dedicated teams driving measurable progress. Together with the U.S. Food Waste Pact and our industry peers, we’re proving that collaboration and innovation can help reduce food waste nationwide—and build a more sustainable food system for the future.