Survey data on firm-level surplus food and food waste management from the Italian food processing industry

Food waste is a major challenge for the food industry, accounting for 14% of the world's food between harvest and the retail market. The adoption of effective prevention and reduction strategies requires awareness of the quantity of waste generated, yet firm-level data is lacking. Collecting and exploiting more data is essential for addressing societal, climate, and environmental challenges. Despite recognizing the importance of measuring food waste, companies lack cohesive and applicable measures, and there is limited empirical research on the topic due to its complexity. Accurate data collection is hindered by improper recording, lack of standardized methods, and diverse sources. This paper contributes to filling this gap by presenting a novel dataset on surplus food and food waste management practices in the Italian food processing industry, gathered from 1,812 firms. The dataset includes 181 variables, covering 31 topics related to firm characteristics, food waste practices, and food waste performance, and provides a detailed, representative snapshot of the sector. This extensive dataset aims to facilitate further studies and enhance understanding of food waste management.