EU lawmakers approve law to tackle food waste, fast fashion

EU LAWMAKERS are to give a final green light yesterday to a law on slashing back the mountains of food wasted in Europe each year, and curbing the environmental impact of so-called fast fashion.

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Brussels estimates the 27-nation bloc generates around 130kg of food waste per person each year - adding up to 60 million tons - as well as around 15kg of textile waste.

By curbing food waste, the EU aims by extension to cut the amount of water, fertiliser and energy used to produce, transform and store foodstuffs that end up being thrown away.

The same logic applies to textiles, where the EU says manufacturing a single cotton t-shirt requires 2 700 litres of fresh water - the amount the average person drinks in two and a half years.

When it comes to food, countries will be given binding waste-reduction targets — but left free to choose how to meet them.

By 2030, they will have to slash by 30% the food waste generated by households, retailers and restaurants, compared to 2021-2023 levels.