In 2022, households globally discarded a staggering one billion meals each day, according to the United Nations, describing it as a “global tragedy” of food waste.
The UN’s latest Food Waste Index Report revealed that over $1 trillion worth of food was disposed of by households and businesses, while nearly 800 million people faced hunger.
More than 1 billion tonnes of food, roughly one-fifth of all available produce, was wasted in 2022, with households accounting for the majority.
Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, labeled food waste a “global tragedy” with far-reaching environmental consequences, including five times the planet-heating emissions of the aviation sector.
The report, co-authored with non-profit organization WRAP, provides the most comprehensive overview to date on global food waste, reflecting improved data collection revealing the true scale of the issue.
Richard Swannell from WRAP expressed astonishment at the findings, emphasizing that the wasted food could theoretically feed the entire global hungry population of around 800 million people.
The report highlighted households as the biggest contributors to food waste, representing 60% of the total, amounting to approximately 631 million tonnes. Reasons for this waste included overbuying, misjudged portion sizes, and misinterpreted expiration dates.
Despite the common belief that food waste is mainly a problem in wealthy countries, the report emphasized its global prevalence, with hotter climates and consumption habits also playing a role.
The consequences of food waste extend beyond hunger, affecting natural ecosystems and contributing significantly to climate change. Swannell stressed the importance of reducing food waste throughout the supply chain to mitigate these impacts.
He urged individuals to reconsider their food consumption habits, emphasizing the opportunity to reduce carbon footprints, greenhouse gas emissions, and save money simply by making better use of purchased food.
