United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) has joined the U.S. Food Waste Pact, a national voluntary agreement focused on reducing food waste across the supply chain.
Led by nonprofits ReFED and World Wildlife Fund, the Pact brings together producers, manufacturers, distributors, foodservice operators and retailers to collaborate on practical, data-driven solutions that help reduce food waste, strengthen operational effectiveness and deliver environmental benefits. UNFI joins three other distribution signatories and a growing network of organizations committed to accelerating progress towards a more resilient food system.
“Joining the U.S. Food Waste Pact builds on our ongoing work to advance our commitment to achieving zero waste to landfill by 2030. We look forward to learning from fellow signatories and contributing our experience as we work together to identify practical solutions that can help reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and strengthen food recovery efforts,” said Alisha Real, vice president, sustainability and impact for UNFI.
The Scale of Waste
According to the latest estimate from ReFED, approximately 29% of all food in the U.S. (70 million tons) goes unsold or uneaten each year. Food waste accounts for 114 billion lost meals annually, and it represents $380 billion in total value — equivalent to 1.3% of U.S. GDP. More than 3% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions are generated from food waste, and more than 15% of the country’s freshwater supply is used to cultivate food that ultimately goes to waste.
Making Sustainability Matter
UNFI has established a goal of achieving zero waste to landfills by 2030. In 2025, UNFI diverted 85% of its food waste away from landfill through robust prevention, salvage food donations, food recycling and other diversion programs. By joining the Pact, UNFI will collaborate with peers across the food industry to share best practices, explore new solutions and accelerate progress towards reducing food waste.
“We look forward to having UNFI join us at the table,” said Sara Burnett, executive director of ReFED. “They bring significant scale and decades of experience in the distribution sector, and we’re excited to see how their participation accelerates our shared goal of reducing food waste.”
