International Awareness Day Addressed Food Waste
The FAO and UNEP marked the seventh annual observance to highlight the massive scale of global food loss.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Do you make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of food wasted in your home?
The FAO and UNEP held the seventh International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste to combat a crisis where 645 million people faced hunger in 2025. This global initiative aims to improve measurement tools and policies to reduce environmental and social harm.
Why it matters
Reducing food waste is essential to lowering the 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the problem. The initiative targets critical supply chain inefficiencies to boost sustainability and food security.
Approximately 13 percent of food is lost post-harvest before reaching stores, while 19 percent is discarded by households, restaurants, and shops. These combined losses contribute to 8 to 10 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions.
The players
Food and Agriculture Organization
The FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
United Nations Environment Programme
The UNEP is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and promotes the coherent implementation of sustainable development.
The details
The event featured a virtual session focusing on processing strategies and the release of the Youth for Food, Not Waste facilitation guide for local outreach campaigns. Alongside this, the UNEP published the Limiting Overshoot report to further inform international waste diversion efforts.
Timeline
In 2025, 645 million people faced hunger.
September 29, 2026, was the seventh International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
Roadmap
This initiative follows the strategic frameworks established by the UNEP Limiting Overshoot report to address climate impacts from food systems. It marks a shift toward standardized global measurement tools for waste diversion in both retail and residential sectors.
Individuals can adopt the Youth for Food, Not Waste guide to organize local campaigns that divert organic waste from landfills. These actions help extend local landfill lifespans and reduce the methane emissions associated with household food disposal.
The takeaway
Reducing food waste at home is a practical way to lower individual carbon footprints and combat systemic hunger. Implementing small changes in food storage and shopping habits can significantly decrease personal contribution to global organic waste.
Further reading
Learn more about sustainable food systems on our Organic Food page.
Live Poll
Do you make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of food wasted in your home?
