About Food Waste
Food waste is a global challenge. Understanding its scale and impact helps us to make a real difference for the better. Let's dive into the facts and statistics behind the topic of food waste.
HOW MUCH FOOD IS WASTED GLOBALLY?
According to WWF (2021), 40% of the food that we produce globally goes to waste. This means that 2.5 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year. This equates to 80,000 kilograms of food being wasted around the world, every single second.
Discover MoreWhich food is wasted the most?
Food waste appears across almost every food category. On average across the globe, vegetables (25%), cereals (24%), and fruits (12%) are the food most wasted at home.
When it comes to food waste in consumer households, vegetables, cereals and fruit are followed by roots & tubers (9%), dairy & eggs (7%) and meat & fish (6%) (Chen, 2020).
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HOW MUCH FOOD IS WASTED GLOBALLY?
According to WWF (2021), 40% of the food that we produce globally goes to waste. This means that 2.5 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year. This equates to 80,000 kilograms of food being wasted around the world, every single second.
Which food is wasted the most?
Food waste appears across almost every food category. On average across the globe, vegetables (25%), cereals (24%), and fruits (12%) are the food most wasted at home.
When it comes to food waste in consumer households, vegetables, cereals and fruit are followed by roots & tubers (9%), dairy & eggs (7%) and meat & fish (6%) (Chen, 2020).
The Difference between Food Loss and Food Waste
Food loss happens at an earlier stage in the supply chain and this food does not re-enter the supply chain for any other production use, like animal feed. It happens at harvest, slaughter or catch, so before the food reaches the store shelves, restaurants, food service provider or the end consumer. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2019), defines food loss as a “decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by food suppliers in the chain, excluding retailers, food service providers and consumers.” This loss of food can happen due to many different reasons.
Food waste happens at the end of the supply chain, for example when the food has made it to retailers, grocery stores, food service providers and consumer households. The FAO defines food waste as “the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by retailers, food services and consumers”(FAO, 2019).
Why is food waste a problem?
Food waste has an enormous impact on society, the economy and the environment. As such, reducing food waste presents a powerful opportunity to make a positive impact on climate change, the cost of living, and food accessibility.
are caused by food waste
(WWF, 2021)goes into food that ultimately goes to waste
(WWF, 2024)is used annually to produce food that ultimately goes to waste. In total, this corresponds to a land area larger than China
(WWF, 2024)is the amount of money lost through food waste every year
(WWF, 2024)do not have access to adequate, nutritious food
(FAO, 2023)are affected by hunger every day
(FAO, 2024)Which food is wasted the most?
Food waste appears across almost every food category. On average across the globe, vegetables (25%), cereals (24%), and fruits (12%) are the food most wasted at home.
When it comes to food waste in consumer households, vegetables, cereals and fruit are followed by roots & tubers (9%), dairy & eggs (7%) and meat & fish (6%) (Chen, 2020).
Which food is wasted the most?
Food waste appears across almost every food category. On average across the globe, vegetables (25%), cereals (24%), and fruits (12%) are the food most wasted at home.
When it comes to food waste in consumer households, vegetables, cereals and fruit are followed by roots & tubers (9%), dairy & eggs (7%) and meat & fish (6%) (Chen, 2020).
Learn MoreThe Difference between Food Loss and Food Waste
Food loss happens at an earlier stage in the supply chain and this food does not re-enter the supply chain for any other production use, like animal feed. It happens at harvest, slaughter or catch, so before the food reaches the store shelves, restaurants, food service provider or the end consumer. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization , defines food loss as a “decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by food suppliers in the chain, excluding retailers, food service providers and consumers.” This loss of food can happen due to many different reasons.
Saving food from going to waste through Good To Treat offers environmental benefits on three levels:
All the energy and resources used in the process of making that food have not been used in vain;
Consuming this surplus food means that additional food does not need to be produced;
The food that you rescue from going to waste will now not end up in landfills or incinerators, avoiding additional emissions.