Date Labelling Coalition

Every day in the Netherlands, millions of kilograms of perfectly edible food are thrown away. Not because it has gone bad, but because consumers don't know exactly how to interpret date labels. The Date Labelling Coalition is changing that and your organisation can be part of that change.

What does the Date Labelling Coalition do?

The Date Labelling Coalition is a powerful collaboration of producers, supermarkets, industry associations, and government partners. Our shared goal: making date labels understandable and thereby structurally reducing unnecessary food waste. 10% of total food waste in households is linked to date labels. Together we can prevent this. For example, by clarifying the difference between Best Before (BB) and Use By (UB) with icons on packaging and by communicating more about this.

Launched at the international conference ‘Towards Halving Food Waste in Europe’ in June 2024, we are working towards one clear message on all packaging in the Netherlands.

The Date Labelling Coalition is an initiative of Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling (Food Waste Free United), FNLI, and Too Good To Go, with support from CBL, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. The efforts of Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre to clarify date labels are funded by the Ministry of LVVN and the EU.

New icons: simple, clear, and effective

Many consumers don't know exactly the difference between Best Before (BB) and Use By (UB). That's why we are introducing two recognisable icons that give everyone immediate clarity.

Want to know more about the difference between the two date labels?

Who's already on board?

A growing group of leading organisations has already joined.

The benefits of te Date Labelling Coalition

More and more companies are joining and for good reason. Benefits include:

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Faster results

Reduce food waste faster and more effectively thanks to in-depth knowledge, collaboration, and support within the network.

Access to the network

Join the largest producers and retailers in the Netherlands and work together on next steps and new partnerships.

More visibility

We give your efforts and successes in reducing food waste and clarifying date labels the platform they deserve.

Early access

You'll be the first to access benchmarks, tools, and insights from the Food Waste Free United network. Staying ahead of the curve, always.

Examples of our partners

The icons are available in various sizes and formats. Here you will find some examples.

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Want to help clarifying date labels?

Join the coalition

What our partners say about the coalition

"For us, the added value lies in now being part of a group of companies that are collectively committed to this cause, speaking with one voice and learning from each other."

Willemijn Storimans (Unilever)

Strategy & External Affairs manager

"The strength of the coalition lies in sharing knowledge and translating insights into practical solutions on the shop floor and in communications."

Anneloes Hoorneman (De Smaakspecialist)

Manager Commercie & Impact

Is a date label always necessary?

Some products carry a date label when they don't need one. The Date Labelling Coalition has submitted a proposal to exempt certain products from the mandatory date labelling requirement.

More about the Annex X list

Do you want to help clarify date labelling?