Not only does this result in enormous economic costs, but it also has serious consequences for the environment. Meanwhile, millions of people lack access to healthy food or face hunger.

Fortunately, there are solutions we can implement to minimize food waste and thus conserve the health of our planet. Discover in the following article how much food is wasted annually, the "price" paid by the environment, and the strategies to reduce waste.

Globally, one-third of the food produced each year is wasted, amounting to 1.3 billion tons, according to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) report from 2011, "GLOBAL FOOD LOSSES AND FOOD WASTE". According to World Wildlife, this amount could be enough to feed all the undernourished people on the planet.

According to the latest report (2024) from the international organization World Food Programme, the data is slightly different but equally alarming: one-fifth of the food produced is wasted, which equates to one billion meals per day.

At the same time, 1 in 9 people does not consume enough food. This means that 793 million people are undernourished globally, according to FAO.

Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health estimates that reducing food waste by just 15% in the United States alone could make it possible to feed more than 25 million Americans daily.

Eurostat statistics also show that in Europe:

• 131 kg of food are wasted per capita each year;

• 54% of food waste occurs at the individual household level, equating to 70 kg of food wasted annually per person;

• 46% of food waste occurs in the food chain (factories, farms, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes).

Even if it seems like you're throwing away a tiny amount of food that couldn't possibly harm anything, the reality is different. As statistics show, the amount of wasted food at the end of a year is enormous—because its volume grows each day, adding up to the waste generated by each individual.

Thus, wasting large amounts of food has severe consequences for nature, planet resources, and the economy.

According to Jangira Lewis in the article "How Does Food Waste Affect the Environment?", food waste not only refers to wasting food but also the resources needed for its production, processing and transportation, such as water, energy and fuel.

Globally, agriculture consumes 70% of water. Enormous amounts of water are required to irrigate crops of vegetables, grains and fruits, as well as to raise fish and animals.

By wasting uneaten food, we waste approximately a quarter of water resources. This is a major issue as many countries face water scarcity. Additionally, fertilizers, cultivated land and landfill space are wasted, each by about 20%.

Throwing away a glass of milk wastes about 1,000 liters of water, and discarding a kilogram of beef wastes about 50,000 liters of water.

Increased demand for food and converting arable land into pastures for animals lead to the gradual degradation of soils and ecosystems.

Discarded food ends up rotting in landfills, generating the emission of a harmful greenhouse gas called methane, which is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Methane persists in the environment for 12 years and contributes to climate change by trapping solar energy.

Food waste is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, which is almost five times more than the aviation sector, according to World Food Programme.

Reducing food waste could decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 6-8%. Additionally, saving food could prevent the release of 4.4 million tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to removing 1 in 4 cars from the roads.

Large sums of money are lost in the production, processing and transportation of food that ends up being discarded. It is estimated that nearly one trillion dollars are spent annually worldwide due to food waste and loss.

Significant financial losses also occur at the individual level. For example, in the United Kingdom, a family of four spends 1,000 pounds annually on food they throw away, according to Mark Smulian in the article "Food waste costs households £1,000 a year".

Fortunately, there are numerous ways to reduce food waste. These can have a major positive impact on the environment if adopted by as many people as possible. Here’s what you can do individually:

1. Store food properly: Read packaging information about storage conditions to prevent spoilage. Perishable foods like vegetables, fruits and meat should be kept in the refrigerator. Add a dry napkin to salad bags to absorb excess moisture and extend shelf life. It’s recommended to store herbs (parsley, dill, lovage) in water. Dry foods like cereals should be stored in airtight containers, in cool places;

1. Check expiration dates: Be mindful of product shelf life to consume them in time. Place items nearing their expiration date in an easily visible spot, and keep items with longer shelf lives further back;

1. Freeze food: One method of preserving food is freezing. This extends its shelf life without affecting its nutritional quality;

1. Plan your meals and shopping: Plan your menu in advance to determine exactly what and how much food you need. Excess purchases can lead to significant waste. Buy easily perishable items like fruits and vegetables in small amounts and for short periods (a few days);

1. Cook precise portions: Avoid preparing large quantities of food that may not be consumed. Measure or weigh ingredients and try to prepare exact portions based on the number of people in your household and the number of days you will be eating the same meal;

1. Reuse leftovers: Instead of discarding leftover vegetables, use them to make other dishes, such as a vegetable rice side dish. Leftover meat from a barbecue can be added to stews or diced for a stuffed wrap with vegetables and meat. Sweet potato peels can be baked for a crunchy snack. Use your creativity to smartly reuse food scraps;

1. Revive wilted vegetables: Soak parsley, dill, lovage or lettuce in cold water for a few hours. This will restore wilted leaves to their fresh state;

1. Cook overripe vegetables and fruits: You may be tempted to discard produce that no longer looks fresh. However, you can use them in vegetable soups or smoothies. Overripe fruits can also be used to sweeten homemade baked goods;

1. Use food to its fullest potential: Avoid discarding edible parts of vegetables, such as broccoli stems or carrot, celery or potato peels. These can be used in various dishes after thorough washing;

1. Recycle through composting: Collect food scraps that you cannot use in any other way in a compost bin. This will provide you with natural fertilizer for your garden.

If you own a restaurant or grocery store, in addition to responsible purchasing, good organization, recipe adherence and proper storage, you have other techniques at your disposal to reduce food waste:

• Sell at a discount - For easily perishable foods or dishes you anticipate will not sell and will need to be discarded, consider offering discounts. The lower price will encourage customers to buy the products. There are also apps for restaurants where you can sell leftover meals at reduced prices at the end of the day;

• Donate to animal shelters - Large quantities of food left over from restaurant events can be donated to animal shelters. This way, you will help organizations save on maintenance costs;

• Donate to charitable organizations - Consider partnering with organizations that feed the homeless or those in disadvantaged circumstances;

• Offer leftover food to employees - Another idea is to allow employees to take home leftover dishes at the end of the day.

Thus, food waste has a significant impact on the environment. You can contribute daily to reducing planet pollution by adopting simple and practical strategies.