According to UN data, about 60% of food waste is generated at the household level, while the remainder is produced in the food service and retail sectors. This is related to the inefficiencies of food systems encompassing production, distribution, and consumption.
To change the situation, it is necessary to rethink these systems, moving towards more sustainable, circular models, focusing on efficiency, sustainability, and environmental aspects.
The International Day for a World Without Waste is celebrated on March 30. The initiative to establish it was supported by Turkey in 2022, along with 105 other countries.
The theme of the International Day in 2026 will focus on food — on what we eat, what we throw away, and how we can move towards a circular economy.
To tackle this issue, governments at both national and local levels can implement strategies to reduce food waste as part of their climate and biodiversity programs.
The private sector can also begin tracking losses and taking measures to reduce them, which includes:
- improving food waste accounting;
- optimizing supply chains;
- redesigning retail networks;
- redistributing surplus food through transparent and circular business models.
Consumers can optimize their purchases by planning meals, making conscious choices about products, storing them properly, and fully utilizing all purchased items. This may include sharing with neighbors, reusing leftovers, and composting unavoidable organic waste.
