More than 1 billion meals were wasted per day in 2022, according to new UN report
Global households waste 1 trillion dollars of food annually, contributing to significant environmental and economic impacts.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
A recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme revealed that global households are wasting an excessive amount of food each year, despite ongoing concerns about food insecurity worldwide. The report found that in 2022, households around the world discarded over 1 billion meals daily, totaling more than 1 trillion dollars worth of food and weighing 1.05 billion tons. Roughly 19% of food available to consumers is wasted, with households contributing the most at 60%, followed by the food service and retail sectors. On average, an individual wastes around 79 kilograms (174 pounds) of food annually. Food waste is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with 8-10% of global emissions attributed to food waste, nearly five times more than emissions from the aviation sector. The report noted disparities in food waste between rural and urban areas, emphasizing the need to focus on reducing waste and strengthening circular practices. While some countries have made progress in reducing food waste, more robust data collection and collaborative efforts are needed globally to address this pressing issue.