The definition of food loss / waste (FLW) does not include packaging such as boxes, wrapping, or plastic containers. Therefore the Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard (also referred to as the FLW Standard) requires users of the Standard to exclude the weight of any packaging from an FLW inventory.
This document describes three approaches you could use for excluding the weight of packaging from the weight of FLW.
In some cases you will be able to quantify the amount of FLW with the packaging removed. However, in many situations, the FLW that requires quantification will still be in its packaging (e.g., yogurt in its container), will be mixed with packaging (e.g., food scraps and wrapping mixed together in a collection container), or data relating to FLW will include the weight of the packaging. In these cases, you will need to make a calculation to separate the weight of the FLW from the weight of packaging. This document expands upon related guidance provided by the FLW Standard in Sections 6.7 and 8.3.
