NAIROBI / RankWire.AI / – According to the United Nations Environment Programme, global food loss and waste amount to over $1 trillion each year, with more than one billion meals discarded daily within households alone. The spotlight on this issue was reignited on September 29 during the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. UNEP emphasizes that cutting down on losses can help preserve land, water, and forests, while also reducing emissions associated with food that is not consumed.
The problem spans entire food supply chains and consumer markets. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that 13.4% of globally produced food is lost after harvest and before reaching retail outlets. Additionally, 19% of the food available to consumers is wasted by households, food services, and retailers. UNEP’s 2024 Food Waste Index estimates that in 2022, 1.05 billion tonnes of food at the consumer level were wasted, with households accounting for 60% of this total.
Food loss and waste contribute approximately 8% to 10% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. UNEP and FAO note that food waste alone can be responsible for up to 14% of global methane emissions. To address this, UNEP programme manager Michael Muratha highlights practical solutions like improving handling, storage, transportation, and cold-chain systems. He also advocates for redistributing safe surplus food to keep edible products in use.
Advancing waste reduction in food systems
Technology is increasingly utilized to monitor waste in commercial kitchens. A UAE initiative involving Hilton, Winnow, UNEP West Asia, and the Ne’ma project tracked breakfast waste across 13 hotels. Using AI tools and plate-waste systems, the project identified issues such as overproduction and unnecessary disposal of food. Winnow’s data reveal a 62% overall reduction in breakfast food waste over four months, though it did not specify a decrease in post-consumer waste specifically.
The initiative achieved a 76% reduction in pre-consumer waste and a 55% decrease in post-consumer waste. By analyzing data from the waste tracking systems, teams optimized food preparation, buffet layouts, portion sizes, and staff practices. This case offers clear evidence of how technology can aid in measuring food waste and implementing operational improvements. UNEP also supports simpler methods, such as community programs that utilize ingredients often discarded during food preparation.
Global commitments target 2030
At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025, UNEP and its partners introduced the Food Waste Breakthrough initiative, aiming to cut global food waste by half by 2030. The plan also seeks to reduce methane emissions related to food waste by up to 7%. The Global Environment Facility contributed $3 million to the initiative at its launch, which took place during COP30 — correcting earlier references that misplaced the event at COP31 in Brazil.
This 2030 objective aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which calls for halving per-capita food waste at retail and consumer levels. It also emphasizes reducing food losses along production and supply chains. As of September 2026, FAO noted that progress towards this goal has been limited in recent years. Current UN data confirm that the scale of food losses and waste remains significant, wasting resources and incurring considerable economic and environmental costs.