Food Waste Facts & Statistics
Our kitchens are the
front linein
protecting the
climate.
If food waste were a country, it would be the 3rd largest emitter in the world. Cooking our leftovers is one of the most effective personal steps we can take for the environment.
1.3 Bn
Tonnes of food goes uneaten globally. Imagine the meals we can discover!
An agricultural landmass larger than China is used to grow uneaten food.
By cooking smarter, we can help return millions of acres of land back to nature.
We can
solve
hunger
right from
our homes.
The world produces more than enough food. By valuing every ingredient we buy, we take a unified step toward balancing resources for everyone.
Saving water one meal at a time.
The water footprint of wasted food could sustain 9 billion people. Choosing to cook with what we have is a direct action to save our most precious resource.
A simple choice creates massive impact.
Every time you use an ingredient that would otherwise be discarded, you are directly participating in the largest global solution to climate change.
Start Cooking NowGlobal Food Waste Statistics
Roughly 1.3 billion tonnes of food is lost or wasted every year — about a third of all food produced for human consumption, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 estimates that 1.05 billion tonnes of food went to waste in 2022 alone. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet.
How Much Food Is Wasted at Home?
Households are the single biggest source of food waste — UNEP attributes about 60% of all food waste to homes, roughly 79 kg per person per year. The most commonly wasted foods are fresh fruits and vegetables, bread and baked goods, leftovers, and dairy. The good news: home food waste is also the easiest to fix, because it's fully within your control.
How to Reduce Food Waste at Home
- Cook with what you already have. Plan meals around the ingredients in your fridge and pantry before buying more. Apps like DinnerForToday turn the ingredients you have into a recipe in seconds.
- Store food properly. Keep herbs in water, freeze bread, and learn which produce lasts longer in or out of the fridge.
- Use your leftovers. Yesterday's rice, chicken, or vegetables are the start of today's dinner — not trash.
- Shop a plan, not a craving. A short list built around real meals beats impulse buys that rot in the drawer.
- Trust your senses over date labels. “Best before” is about quality, not safety — much edible food is binned early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much food is wasted globally each year?
About 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted globally every year — roughly a third of all food produced for human consumption, according to the FAO.
How much food is wasted at home?
Households are the largest source of food waste, responsible for around 60% of the total — roughly 79 kg of food per person every year, according to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024.
How can I reduce food waste at home?
Plan meals around what you already have, store food properly, and use up your leftovers. Apps like DinnerForToday turn the ingredients already in your fridge into a recipe in seconds, so less food gets thrown away.
Why does food waste matter for the climate?
Wasted food accounts for roughly 8–10% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter in the world, behind only China and the United States.
Which foods are wasted the most?
Fresh fruits and vegetables, bread and baked goods, leftovers, and dairy products are the most commonly wasted foods in the home — all of which can be saved with a little planning and the right recipe.
Sources: UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024.