Japanese companies leverage AI, big data in fight against food waste

Lawson aims to bring down overstock by 30% in places where its AI software has been rolled out, and wants to halve food waste at all of its stores in 2030 compared with 2018. — Reuters

TOKYO: Japanese companies are ramping up the use of artificial intelligence and other advanced technology to reduce waste and cut costs in the pandemic, and looking to score some sustainability points along the way.

Disposing of Japan’s more than six million tonnes in food waste costs the world's No.3 economy some 2 trillion yen (RM76.07bil) a year, government data shows. With the highest food waste per capita in Asia, the Japanese government has enacted a new law to halve such costs from 2000 levels by 2030, pushing companies to find solutions.