EU Food Waste Rose to 57.9 Million Tonnes in 2024
The European Union reported a 0.7% increase in total food waste, with households responsible for more than half of the total.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Organic Food
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In 2024, the European Union generated 57.9 million tonnes of food waste, marking a 0.7% increase from the 57.5 million tonnes recorded in 2023. This total amounts to 129 kilograms of waste produced per person across the region.
Why it matters
Understanding the distribution of food waste is critical for identifying efficiency gaps in the food supply chain and developing strategies to reduce environmental impact. Because households generate the majority of this waste, consumer behavior remains a primary focus for regional sustainability goals.
Households accounted for 53% of all waste, generating 69 kilograms per person, while food manufacturing and restaurants contributed 19% and 12% respectively. In total, the region produced 129 kilograms of food waste per capita in 2024.
The players
European Union
The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe.
The details
The total volume of food waste includes both edible and inedible parts of food items generated throughout the supply chain. Beyond household contributions, the manufacturing of food products and beverages accounted for 19% of the total, followed by 12% from restaurants and 8% each from retail and primary production.
Timeline
The European Union generated 57.5 million tonnes of food waste in 2023.
The total volume of food waste reached 57.9 million tonnes during 2024.
Roadmap
This increase in waste generation reflects ongoing challenges in meeting regional sustainability targets. The data complicates efforts to align food production and consumption patterns with the waste reduction goals outlined in the European Union Farm to Fork Strategy.
The data highlights the significant footprint of individual household waste, which averages 69 kilograms per person. Residents can reduce this impact by adopting better meal planning and food storage techniques to decrease the amount of edible material discarded annually.
The takeaway
Reducing household food waste requires a shift in purchasing habits to ensure that edible goods are fully utilized before they expire. Implementing simple inventory tracking in the kitchen can help individuals significantly lower their personal contribution to the regional waste total.
Further reading
For more information on regional consumption patterns, visit the Organic Food section.
Live Poll
Do you feel a personal responsibility to reduce the amount of food waste your household generates?
