Over 59 million tonnes of food waste (132 kg/inhabitant) are generated annually in the EU, with an associated market value estimated at 132 billion euro (Eurostat, 2024). At the same time, over 42 million people cannot afford a quality meal every second day (Eurostat, 2023). Households generate more than half of the total food waste (54%) in the EU, accounting for 72 kg per inhabitant. The remaining 46% is waste generated upwards in the food supply chain: 19% by the manufacture of food products and beverages (25 kg per inhabitant), 11% by restaurants and food services (15 kg per inhabitant), 8% in the retail and other distribution of food (11 kg per inhabitant), and 8% in primary production (10 kg per inhabitant).

Therefore, it is one of the main goals of EU policy to reduce food waste. In 2023, the Commission proposed legally binding targets to reduce food waste across the EU, defined against a baseline for EU food waste levels set following the first EU-wide monitoring of food waste levels. 

Some of the actions of the European Commission include:

• EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste: A platform to coordinate and drive efforts to reduce food waste.

• EU methodology to measure food waste: Developing a common methodology for consistent measurement.

• Food Donation: Clarifying legislation to facilitate food donation.

• Prevention of food waste through date marking: Improving the use and understanding of date marking.

• Use of food no longer intended for human consumption: Repurposing food for animal feed.

• EU Food Loss and Waste Prevention Hub: A hub for sharing best practices and resources.

• “Zero Waste, More Taste! Campaign: A campaign to raise awareness and promote food waste reduction.

Related legislation:

Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/1597 as regards a common methodology and minimum quality requirements for the uniform measurement of levels of food waste.

Commission Notice (C/2018/2035): Guidelines for the feed use of food no longer intended for human consumption.

Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste.

Related funding:

• EU Food Waste Action Grants under the Single Market Programme

• EU funded projects for research on food losses and food waste