Zero Waste Food Systems: A Global Approach Towards Sustainability

In September 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations (UN) established a joint plan for 2030 and set up 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The 12th SDG, 'Responsible Production and Consumption' connects to food loss and waste and links to the concept of sustainability.

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Introduction

Around 13.2% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail every year globally, meanwhile, from households alone, the total loss is around 19% of the global food production. In developed countries, most waste generation is from consumers, whereas in developing countries, this is predominantly from food retailers and processors. The ever-increasing population with increased food demand, environmental impacts with high food waste rates, inefficient resources and food distribution are all calling for a shift towards more sustainable, less impact practices.

1. Problems due to food waste accumulation

The loss or wastage of food also means the wastage of resources like land, water, labour, energy and capital used for the production of the food. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), combined food loss and waste amount to 25-30% of total food produced. In addition, food production that leads to loss or waste accounts for a quarter of global agricultural freshwater use and contributes to 8-10% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This substantial amount that is lost and wasted every year has major environmental implications in climate change, loss of biodiversity, freshwater, marine and air pollution, including eutrophication, increased CO2 emissions and the use of land and water resources. An estimated 70% of biodiversity loss stems from agriculture and the cultivation of food, fuel and fibre, suggesting that food loss and waste contribute significantly to the decline in plant and animal species. Different stages of the food supply chain, including food processing, packaging and transport, place the sector at the top of global greenhouse gas emitters.

2. The Food Waste Hierarchy