Global Food Waste Exceeds One Billion Meals Daily in 2022

• 30 Mar 2024

The Food Waste Index Report 2024, recently released by UNEP and WRAP, reveals that over one billion meals are wasted daily worldwide, despite widespread hunger.

Key Points

• Household Waste Dominates: Sixty percent of food waste occurs at the household level, with significant contributions from food services and retail.
• Data Infrastructure Deficiency: Report highlights the need for improved data systems to track food waste, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
• Climate Change Impact: Food waste contributes 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing its role in climate change and biodiversity loss.
• Rural vs. Urban Disparities: Rural areas tend to waste less food compared to urban areas, attributed to practices like composting and feeding scraps to animals.
• Government Action Urged: Only 21 countries have incorporated food waste reduction in climate plans; report calls for increased government commitment.
• Defining Food Waste: Distinction made between food waste and food loss, highlighting their different stages in the supply chain.
• Monitoring Efforts: UNEP oversees the Food Waste Index, tracking global and national food waste generation at retail and consumer levels.