According to a recent United Nations report, more than 1 billion meals are wasted globally each day, while nearly 800 million people suffer from hunger. In 2022, the world squandered 1.05 billion metric tons of food, with approximately a fifth of available food being wasted by households, restaurants, and other sectors of the food industry. Additionally, 13% of the world's food is lost during the production process, resulting in a total of about one-third of all food going to waste.
The report highlights the stark contrast between the amount of food wasted and the number of people facing food insecurity and hunger. The UN Environment Programme's Food Waste Index Report 2024 emphasizes the significant impact of food waste on climate change and questions the global distribution of food resources.
Food waste is categorized as either 'loss' or 'waste,' with 'loss' referring to food discarded early in the supply chain and 'waste' being food thrown out by households, restaurants, and stores. In 2022, households were responsible for 60% of the total food waste, while the food service sector and retail accounted for 28% and 12%, respectively.
The average person wastes 79 kilograms (174 pounds) of food annually, leading to the wastage of at least one billion meals each day. Despite improvements in data collection, the report criticizes countries for inadequate monitoring of food waste. Only 21 countries have included food loss and waste in their national climate plans, despite the fact that it contributes significantly to global planet-heating emissions.
Food production is resource-intensive, requiring vast amounts of land and water, and food systems are responsible for about one-third of global planet-heating emissions. The majority of food waste ends up in landfills, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas with significant warming power.
The report also notes that food waste is not limited to affluent nations, as both high- and middle-income countries waste significant amounts of food annually. The impact of climate change on food waste is evident, with hotter countries experiencing more challenges in storing and transporting food before it spoils.