NAIROBI / RankWire.AI / – According to the United Nations Environment Programme, worldwide food loss and waste drain over $1 trillion from the economy each year. Every day, households alone throw away more than one billion meals. The issue gained renewed attention on September 29, during the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. UNEP emphasizes that cutting losses helps preserve land, water, and forests while reducing emissions from uneaten food.
This problem spans entire food supply chains and markets. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that 13.4% of global food produced is lost after harvest and before it reaches retail. Additionally, 19% of available food is wasted by households, food service providers, and retailers. UNEP’s 2024 Food Waste Index estimated that in 2022, 1.05 billion tonnes of food at the consumer level was wasted, with households responsible for 60% of that waste.
Food loss and waste contribute roughly 8% to 10% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, according to UNEP and FAO. Food waste alone accounts for as much as 14% of global methane emissions. UNEP programme manager Michael Muratha highlighted improved handling, storage, transportation, and cold-chain systems as effective measures to reduce losses. He also suggested redistributing safe surplus food to keep edible items in use.
Addressing waste within the food system
Technology is increasingly employed to track waste in commercial kitchens. A project in the UAE involved Hilton, Winnow, UNEP West Asia, and the Ne’ma initiative. It monitored breakfast waste across 13 hotels. The programme used AI tools and plate-waste systems to identify overproduction and discarded food. Winnow’s data showed a 62% overall reduction in breakfast food waste over four months, rather than a 62% reduction in post-consumer waste.
The project achieved a 76% decrease in pre-consumer waste and a 55% drop in post-consumer waste. Teams adjusted food production, buffet layout, portion sizes, and staff practices based on tracking data. This example demonstrates how technology can support measuring food waste and making operational improvements. UNEP also advocates for simpler methods, including community programs that utilize ingredients often thrown away during preparation.
Global goals target 2030
UNEP and its partners introduced the Food Waste Breakthrough at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. The initiative aims to cut global food waste by half by 2030. It also seeks to reduce methane emissions related to food waste by up to 7%. The Global Environment Facility pledged $3 million to support this effort during its launch. The event took place at COP30, clarifying that the initiative was incorrectly linked to COP31 in Brazil.
This 2030 target aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which calls for halving per-capita food waste at retail and consumer levels. It also aims to reduce food losses along production and supply chains. In September 2026, FAO noted that progress toward these goals has been slow in recent years. Current UN data show that food losses and waste still consume significant resources and impose heavy economic and environmental costs.