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Food loss and waste

Nearly 40% of all food that is produced globally is wasted. Reducing this waste is one of the most impactful and effective strategies to reduce the food system’s impact on nature. WWF brings organizations together from the hospitality, retail, restaurant, food service, distribution, and manufacturing sectors, as well as schools and farms, to measure and reduce waste from field to table.

Read: The hidden cost Watch: Food should never be trash

The impact of food loss and waste

The food we lose on farms around the planet could feed the world’s undernourished population almost four times over. Wasted food represents roughly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—nearly four times more than the global airline industry’s. It is the main driver of the loss of forests, grasslands, and other critical wildlife habitats, while also depleting freshwater supplies.

Two farmers stand in a field. One holds a digital tablet and the other farmer points to field with hand.

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  • 16% of all food

    In the US, about 16% of all food is left behind on farms, wasting the fresh water, fertilizer, and energy required for production.

  • 39.2 lbs. per student

    A recent study by WWF found that 39.2 pounds of food and 28.7 cartons of milk per student are wasted each year.

  • 31% of the food supply

    It is estimated that nearly a third of the food supply in the US is wasted each year—with most of the waste ending up in landfills or incinerators.

  • 70% of biodiversity loss

    Food production has the largest global environmental impact of any human activity—accounting for 70% of biodiversity loss, 70% of freshwater use, 50% of soil erosion, and a third of all greenhouse gas emissions.

How WWF is taking action on food loss and waste

WWF is working with governments, communities, food businesses, and other stakeholders to build programs and solutions to prevent and reduce food loss and waste across the entire food system. WWF food loss and waste programs are active in the following areas.

A man bends down to harvest chard. More workers can be seen behind him.

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Farms & primary production

WWF is leading efforts to measure on-farm loss and to develop new solutions across the supply chain. The goal is to reduce on-farm loss and to deliver more of the harvest to people, lessening the intensity of food production.
The produce section of a supermarket with a variety of apples shown in large containers.

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Food businesses

WWF is partnering with food businesses across the supply chain to set ambitious targets and drive meaningful action to reduce food waste—within their operations, across their supply chains, and with their customers.
Students holding trays in a lunch line

© WWF-US / Rebecca Drobis

Students & schools

WWF’s Food Waste Warriors program is supporting K-12 students and teachers to turn school cafeterias into classrooms, helping them to better understand the connection between food and the environment, and take the lead in reducing food waste in schools and communities.
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Consumer engagement

WWF is working with partners on a consumer-based project to reduce food waste and expand composting in the US. The multi-year campaign will create systemic change by combining a national media campaign, compost market development, and local community education.
Close-up of person examining canned food label in supermarket

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Food system policy

WWF is partnering with a coalition of NGOs, businesses, and communities to develop bipartisan and common-sense food loss and waste policies to help the US meet its goal of halving food waste by 2030.
Bags of vegetables displayed for sale at a food market in Bolivia

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Working globally

As a global network, WWF works with communities and partners to scale the reduction of food loss and waste in critical landscapes and cities. We aim to drive reductions through private and public sector engagement, accelerating commitments that support circular food and waste management systems

How you can get involved

Podcast: Expert tips to keep food out of landfills and save money

This episode explores the critical issue of food waste and its impact on our planet. Join host Seth Larson as he speaks with Pete Pearson, vice president for food loss and waste at the World Wildlife Fund, about the staggering amount of food wasted globally and its connection to environmental degradation. Discover innovative solutions and initiatives aimed at reducing food waste, including the Food Waste Warriors program in schools, the Hotel Kitchen project, and the US Food Waste Pact. Learn practical tips on how you can minimize food waste in your own home and contribute to a more sustainable future.

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Tell Congress there’s no time for food waste

Right now, there's no coordinated national strategy to tackle this massive problem that hits both our wallets and our environment. Take two minutes to tell your representatives to support two common-sense bills in Congress.

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