The Food Waste Index Report 2024 provides an updated assessment of global food waste, focusing on the scale of the issue and its environmental, social, and economic impacts. The report is part of ongoing efforts to track progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, which aims to halve per capita global food waste by 2030.

Key Findings

1. Global Food Waste: Estimates that approximately 931 million tonnes of food waste will be generated globally in 2024, with the majority coming from households (61%), followed by food service (26%) and retail (13%). This highlights that food waste is a significant issue across all supply chain stages.
2. Environmental Impact: Food waste significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Wasted food means wasted resources—water, energy, and labor. Reducing food waste is crucial for climate action, lowering emissions from agriculture and landfills.
3. Economic and Social Costs: Food waste incurs significant financial losses, particularly for low-income households. Reducing waste could enhance global food security by increasing available resources.
4. Measurement and Data Gaps: This paper notes challenges in accurate food waste measurement across regions and sectors. Despite improved data collection, gaps persist, especially in low—and middle-income countries lacking formal tracking systems.

Strategic Recommendations

• Policy Interventions: Governments should enact policies to reduce food waste across sectors. This includes awareness campaigns, business incentives, and regulations promoting efficient inventory management and food donation.
• Private Sector Engagement: The private sector plays a crucial role in reducing food waste through innovations in packaging, supply chain management, and technology solutions that help track and minimize waste.
• Consumer Education: Raising consumers’ awareness of food waste’s environmental and economic impacts is essential. Educational campaigns can help shift behaviors towards more sustainable consumption patterns.

Overview

Introduction

Outlines the importance of the Food Waste Index and links it to SDG target 12.3, which aims to halve global food waste by 2030. It stresses the need for accurate measurement to track progress effectively. It also explains the index calculation methodology, emphasizing reliable data sources and direct measurements. This sets the foundation for the report’s subsequent sections on food waste data collection, analysis, and findings across regions and sectors.

INDEX LEVEL 1: EXISTING DATA AND MODELLING

Focuses on the methodology and findings of the Food Waste Index’s first level, which uses existing data and modeling to estimate food waste. It highlights the importance of these methods in understanding food waste and emphasizes the need for improved approaches to generate reliable national estimates.

Purpose of Level 1 Estimates

Estimates provide a broad indication of food waste at the national level, helping to highlight the scale of the issue and make an action case—however, more than these estimates are needed to track progress over time or make detailed policy decisions.

Data Collection Methodology

Involves five steps: searching and collating existing data, filtering data for relevance, adjusting data for consistency, extrapolating estimates for countries lacking data, and assigning confidence ratings to the forecast. This systematic approach aims to create a comprehensive database of food waste estimates.

Data Coverage and Confidence

Discusses data availability across different regions and income levels, noting that a wealth of household food waste data often needs more national representativeness. It highlights the need for more consistent and large-scale studies to improve the accuracy of national estimates.

Regional Breakdown

Provides insights into food waste estimates by region, showcasing variations in waste generation and the challenges faced in low—and middle-income countries, particularly in the retail and food service sectors.

INDEX LEVELS 2 AND 3: MEASURING FOOD WASTE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

Focuses on the more advanced methodologies for measuring food waste, which provide greater accuracy and detail than Level 1 estimates. It highlights the critical need for accurate and comprehensive food waste measurement at the national level. By advancing to Levels 2 and 3, countries can better understand the scope of food waste, track their progress, and implement effective strategies to reduce waste and promote sustainability.

Purpose of Levels 2 and 3

• Levels 2 and 3 enable direct food waste measurement for countries with adequate resources. These levels establish national baselines to track progress and inform reduction strategies. Level 2 uses systematic data collection, while Level 3 employs comprehensive, detailed measurements across sectors.

Methodology

• Levels 2 and 3 focus on direct measurement techniques, such as waste audits and surveys. These methods require significant resources and stakeholder engagement across the food supply chain.

Benefits of Direct Measurement

• Direct measurement accurately assesses food waste, enabling targeted interventions and policy development. It establishes national baselines for tracking SDG 12.3 progress and evaluating the effectiveness of reduction initiatives.

Challenges and Recommendations

• Highlights challenges in implementing advanced measurement levels, including resource constraints and technical limitations. It advises countries to invest in capacity building and form partnerships to enhance measurement capabilities.

Global Collaboration

• Emphasizes the importance of global collaboration and knowledge sharing among countries to improve food waste measurement practices. It encourages countries to learn from each other’s experiences and adopt the best data collection and analysis practices.

SOLUTIONS FOCUS: PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Discusses the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in addressing food waste and enhancing collaboration across the food system. It emphasizes the importance of PPPs as a strategic approach to tackling food waste. By fostering collaboration and leveraging the strengths of both sectors, PPPs can drive meaningful progress in reducing food waste and promoting sustainability within the food system.

Definition and Purpose of PPPs

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are collaborations between government and private entities to address food waste. They combine public policy goals with private sector innovation to achieve shared objectives in waste reduction.

Benefits of PPPs

PPPs enable stakeholders to share knowledge, pool resources, and coordinate efforts. They provide a collaborative platform for businesses, NGOs, and government agencies to reduce food waste, exchange best practices, and create tailored solutions.

Five-Step Model for Developing PPPs

• Initiation and Set-Up: Conduct exploratory studies to assess stakeholder readiness and map the local context.
• Ambitions, Goals, and Targets: Define the partnership’s vision and objectives, including specific targets for food waste reduction.
• Establishing Actions: Develop an action plan detailing the collaborative efforts required to achieve the goals.
• Measurement and Evaluation: Implement mechanisms to track progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the partnership’s initiatives.
• Governance and Funding: Establish governance structures and secure funding to support the partnership’s activities.

Case Studies and Examples

Highlights successful PPPs that reduce food waste, showcasing how collaboration can lead to tangible outcomes. These case studies illustrate the diverse approaches that can be taken depending on local needs and circumstances.

Challenges and Recommendations

Underscores the challenges of PPP formation and maintenance, including differing sector priorities and commitment to sustainability. It recommends open communication, trust-building, and alignment with broader policy goals to enhance effectiveness.

Conclusions

Summarizes the report’s key findings and implications regarding food waste and efforts to reduce it globally. Overall, the report’s conclusions reinforce the urgency of addressing food waste through effective measurement, collaboration, and targeted action, highlighting the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in this endeavor.

State of Food Waste

Emphasizes the global scale of food waste and its impact on food security, the environment, and the economy. Stresses the urgent action needed to meet SDG target 12.3: halving food waste by 2030.

Importance of Measurement

Accurate food waste measurement is vital for understanding the problem and tracking progress. The report urges countries to adopt robust frameworks like the Food Waste Index and recommends Levels 2 and 3 methodologies for in-depth analysis and targeted solutions.

Role of Collaboration

Emphasizes the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, NGOs, and consumers, to effectively tackle food waste. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are highlighted as a valuable approach to fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and driving innovation in food waste reduction efforts.

Recommendations for Action

Calls for increased investment in food waste reduction initiatives, capacity building, and supportive policies that encourage sustainable practices across the food supply chain. It encourages countries to learn from successful case studies and implement tailored strategies reflecting local contexts and priorities.

Future Outlook

Concludes with a call to action for all stakeholders to commit to reducing food waste and working together to achieve the SDG targets. It emphasizes that addressing food waste is a moral imperative and an opportunity to enhance food security, reduce environmental impacts, and create economic benefits.