The case for bold, legally-binding food waste reduction targets in the EU

Published: 4 September 2024
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This briefing provides evidence that ambitious legally binding food waste reduction targets for EU Member States under the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) are both feasible and desirable, as they will result in significant cost savings.

Back in Autumn 2023, 65 organisations from 20 EU countries signed a statement calling for the EU to introduce legally-binding targets to reduce EU food loss and waste by 50% from farm to fork by 2030.

About 40% of food is wasted globally, causing an estimated 8–10% of global emissions, and using around 28% of the world’s agricultural land area – larger than China and India combined.