On International Zero Waste Day, the United Nations warned that at least 1 billion tons of food are wasted annually, while the world generates up to 2.3 billion tons of solid waste each year.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighted that 19% of food intended for consumers is wasted, with an additional 13% lost during post-harvest stages. Households account for 60% of food waste, followed by food services at 28% and retail at 12%.
At an event at the UN headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres urged consumers to change habits, retailers to optimize operations, cities to enhance organic waste separation, and governments to promote systemic changes.
UNEP noted that food loss and waste generate 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—almost five times higher than the aviation industry—with food waste alone responsible for up to 14% of global methane emissions.
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“Inger Andersen, UNEP’s executive director, emphasized that the world cannot afford to waste resources or bear the $1 trillion annual economic cost this represents,” the statement said.
International Zero Waste Day, celebrated annually on March 30 since 2023, focuses on food loss, understanding waste, and strategies to reduce it to protect the environment, boost economic stability, strengthen community resilience, and create more efficient and accessible food systems.
Countries like Japan, which reduced food waste by 53% since 2000, and the UK, which decreased waste by 22% since 2007, demonstrate that large-scale change is possible. However, most nations lack solid data to track progress toward halving food waste by 2030. Events also took place in Istanbul, Osaka, Brasília, Geneva, Nairobi, and multiple Chinese provinces.
