Facto: 1 billion meals are wasted every day worldwide

Every single day, the world discards enough food to serve over a billion meals—while more than 730 million people go hungry. This staggering paradox highlights a global crisis of inefficiency, inequality, and environmental damage.

What it means

Roughly 20% of all food produced globally is wasted. Households are the largest contributors, accounting for 60% of this waste, followed by food service (28%) and retail (12%). This translates to nearly 1 billion meals thrown away daily, even as hunger and food insecurity persist worldwide .

Behind the number

Food waste isn't just about leftovers. It includes edible food discarded due to overproduction, cosmetic standards, or expiration dates. Additionally, 13% of food is lost between harvest and market, often due to inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure .

Why you should care

- The consequences are profound:

- Environmental impact: Food waste contributes to 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change .

- Economic loss: The global economy loses approximately $1 trillion annually due to food waste .

- Resource depletion: Wasted food squanders precious resources like water, land, and energy.

- Reducing food waste can alleviate hunger, mitigate climate change, and conserve resources.

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This fact won't change the world on its own.

But sharing it might change someone’s awareness.

Learn more:

UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024

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