Why is it important to not waste food?

January 2, 2026 •

4 min read

Over one billion tonnes of edible food are wasted globally each year, while millions go hungry. This startling fact highlights the inefficiency of our global food systems and why it is important to not waste food. The ripple effects of this waste are felt environmentally, economically, and socially, impacting everything from greenhouse gas emissions to the cost of groceries and global food security.

Quick Summary

Food waste is a major contributor to climate change and resource depletion, with severe economic and social costs. Reducing food waste at home and across the supply chain can conserve resources, lower greenhouse gas emissions, save money, and help address global hunger issues.

Key Points

Environmental Impact: Food waste significantly contributes to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane from landfills.
Resource Depletion: Wasting food also squanders valuable resources, including vast amounts of water, energy, and agricultural land.
Economic Costs: The global economy loses approximately $1 trillion annually, impacting businesses and increasing costs for consumers worldwide.
Ethical Dilemma: The paradox of widespread food waste existing alongside millions of people facing hunger presents a critical moral and social problem.
Household Solutions: Simple strategies like meal planning, proper food storage, and understanding date labels can dramatically reduce waste at home.
Collective Action: Individual efforts, amplified by collective action and supported by food recovery programs, can drive significant positive change.

The Severe Environmental Impact of Wasting Food

When food is wasted, all the resources used to produce, transport, and store it are also squandered. The environmental cost is staggering and far-reaching, directly contributing to climate change and resource depletion. Food waste is responsible for an estimated 8 to 10% of annual global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A major contributor to this is methane, a potent GHG 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, which is released as food decomposes in landfills. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the U.S..

Beyond emissions, food waste exerts pressure on vital natural resources:

Land Use: Roughly 30% of the world's agricultural land is used to produce food that is ultimately lost or wasted. This requires deforestation and habitat destruction, leading to a loss of biodiversity.
Water Consumption: Wasted food accounts for about 25% of all fresh water used in agriculture, a resource that is scarce in many parts of the world. The production of just one hamburger, for instance, wastes the same amount of water as a 90-minute shower if it's discarded.
Energy Consumption: Energy is used at every stage of the food supply chain, from operating farm machinery to powering refrigeration units during transport and storage. This energy is completely wasted when the food is not consumed.

The Economic and Social Toll

The financial and societal costs of food waste are immense. The global economy loses approximately $1 trillion annually due to food loss and waste. For businesses, this means decreased profits and operational inefficiencies. For consumers, it translates to higher food prices, a burden felt most acutely by low-income families. For example, the average family of four in the United States throws away around $1,600 worth of produce each year.

The Moral and Ethical Paradox

While vast quantities of food are wasted, millions of people worldwide face hunger and food insecurity. The sheer imbalance is a moral dilemma, with an estimated 735 million people going hungry while over a billion meals are wasted daily. This paradox highlights the need for more efficient food distribution and better resource management. By reducing food waste, we can reallocate surplus edible food through food recovery programs, bridging the gap between excess and need.

Comparison of Food Waste Impacts

To fully appreciate the scope of the problem, consider the following comparison of impacts related to food waste.


Impact Category	Effect of Wasting Food	Benefit of Reducing Waste
Environment	Increases greenhouse gas emissions, depletes fresh water, and contributes to biodiversity loss.	Mitigates climate change by reducing methane and conserving natural resources like land and water.
Economy	Causes massive financial losses for businesses and households, contributing to higher food prices.	Reduces costs for producers, consumers, and waste management, unlocking economic opportunities.
Society	Worsens food insecurity and hunger, perpetuating a moral and ethical dilemma.	Strengthens food security, provides more nutritious food for vulnerable populations via food recovery.
Supply Chain	Creates inefficiencies and requires more energy and transport for replacement food.	Fosters more resilient and efficient food systems with reduced operational waste.

Practical Steps to Stop Wasting Food at Home

Making a difference starts in your own kitchen. Simple, consistent changes can dramatically reduce your household’s food waste footprint and save you money.

Smart Shopping and Meal Planning:
- Take stock of what you already have in your pantry, fridge, and freezer before shopping.
- Create a specific meal plan for the week and stick to a shopping list to avoid impulse purchases.
- Avoid shopping on an empty stomach to prevent buying more than you need.
Improve Food Storage:
- Store fruits and vegetables correctly; for example, keep potatoes and onions separate to prolong their freshness.
- Adjust your refrigerator temperature to between 1-5 degrees Celsius to keep perishables fresh longer.
- Use transparent containers for leftovers so they are visible and not forgotten.
Embrace Leftovers and Creative Cooking:
- Plan a designated day to use up leftovers or extra ingredients.
- Get creative by turning leftover vegetables into a stir-fry or soup, or stale bread into croutons or bread pudding.
Understand Date Labels:
- Know the difference between “best before” (relates to quality, not safety) and “use by” (relates to food safety, usually on highly perishable items). Many foods are still safe and fine to eat past their “best before” date.
Explore Freezing and Composting:
- Freeze excess food or ingredients you won't use immediately. This is especially useful for bread, meat, and leftover meals.
- For unavoidable waste like eggshells and fruit peels, start composting to return valuable nutrients to the soil and reduce landfill methane.

For more in-depth strategies on food waste reduction, explore the resources available through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a leading authority on global food systems. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - Platform on Food Loss and Waste.

Conclusion: A Global Challenge with Local Solutions

Food waste is a complex, global issue with interconnected environmental, economic, and social consequences. It represents a colossal failure in resource management, contributing to climate change and compounding the tragedy of global hunger. While the scale of the problem is daunting, the solutions begin with individual actions and choices. By making small, intentional changes in our homes—from mindful meal planning to proper food storage and leveraging resources like composting—we can all become agents of change. These individual efforts, when multiplied across communities and nations, form a powerful collective force for a more sustainable, equitable, and efficient food system. Reducing food waste is not just about saving money; it’s a critical step toward safeguarding our planet and ensuring a more secure future for all.

Frequently Asked Questions

When food is thrown into landfills, it decomposes and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. The resources wasted during food production, like energy and transportation fuel, also increase greenhouse gas emissions.

'Best Before' dates refer to the quality of the food, indicating when it is at its peak freshness, taste, and nutritional value. 'Use By' dates, typically found on highly perishable foods, relate to food safety, and should not be consumed after this date.

While figures vary by region, the average family of four in the U.S. discards approximately $1,600 worth of produce each year. This economic impact is felt at all levels, from individuals to the entire supply chain.

To reduce food waste, you can create a meal plan, stick to a shopping list, store food properly, use leftovers creatively in new meals, freeze extra portions, and compost unavoidable scraps.

The vast amount of food wasted globally could be used to feed millions of hungry people. While over a billion tons are wasted, 735 million people face hunger. Addressing food waste can improve global food security by reallocating surplus food to those in need.

Composting is an excellent way to divert unavoidable food waste from landfills and enrich soil, but it's not the primary solution. The highest priority is to reduce waste in the first place, followed by donating edible surplus food. Composting addresses the waste that can't be prevented.

Food recovery programs collect surplus, edible food from businesses and farms that would otherwise be discarded and redistribute it to local food banks, soup kitchens, and social services. These programs help bridge the gap between food excess and food insecurity.

Food waste leads to biodiversity loss through land conversion and pollution. The vast land required for agriculture often involves deforestation, which destroys natural habitats. In addition, the overexploitation of marine fisheries for food that is later wasted harms marine ecosystems.