The crisis of food waste and loss has reached alarming levels globally, posing a significant threat to economic growth and the green transition, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
The UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, the second edition of its kind, was unveiled Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya, ahead of the International Day of Zero Waste. The report highlights staggering statistics, revealing that the world wasted 1.05 billion tonnes of food in 2022 alone. This amounts to 132 kilograms per person, representing one-fifth of all food available to consumers.
Co-authored by UNEP and WRAP, a British environmental charity, the report underscores how food waste undermines efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty while exacerbating environmental pollution. The findings call for urgent action to address food waste as a crucial step towards achieving global sustainability and economic resilience.
As the world gears up to observe the International Day of Zero Waste, the UNEP report serves as a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive strategies to reduce food waste and promote sustainable consumption patterns worldwide.
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UNEP says food waste is derailing economic growth, green transition
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