Food waste

The graphic shows the food waste collected in comparison to the food waste generated in the EU27+NO and reveals a significant gap between the two values. The amount of food waste captured through separate collection schemes represented 20% of the total food waste generated by the European population in 2023, unchanged from 2022. However, since 2020, the share of collected food waste has nearly doubled, increasing from 12% in 2020 to 20% in 2023.The total food waste generated reached 60 million tonnes, yet only 14,6 million tonnes were collected. This low collection rate highlights the big potential for improved food waste recovery across Europe. The graphic also shows that households generate approximately half of the total food waste. In 2020 and 2021, households accounted for 55% of food waste, which slightly decreased to 53% in 2022 and 2023.

The collection data, commissioned by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), covers all EU27 countries and Norway. There are notable differences in food waste collection rates among EU countries: Bulgaria captures 0%, while Denmark and Italy collect 49% and 72%, respectively. To reduce these disparities, the EU Waste Framework Directive now requires the separate collection of bio-waste, including food waste, starting in 2024. This mandate encourages Member States to enhance their municipal collection infrastructure.

With the observation made from this graphic, it is clear that the EU’s food waste collected (in comparison to the generated food waste) remains very low. This highlights a major opportunity for Member States to improve collection efforts. Additionally, Article 9 of the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), also requires Member States to reduce food waste generation and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal of halving food waste by 2030.

The graphic and accompanying data are part of a broader effort to assess the current state of food waste management in the EU and its alignment with circular economy principles. Like other waste streams, food waste represents a critical opportunity to advance the circular economy. Bio-waste, of which 30% is food waste, accounts for up to 34% of the EU’s total municipal waste and contributes to approximately 3% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to landfill emissions. By increasing food waste capture, the EU can reduce emissions and enhance circularity by minimizing reliance on virgin resources (for instance by using biogas for energy and compost as natural fertilizers).

While the BIC study estimates that only 20% of generated food waste is collected, other sources—using different calculation methodologies—report varying figures. For example, data from the EU Bioeconomy Monitoring System suggests that 71% of food waste is collected. Those differences highlight the challenge in getting a precise overview of the food waste management in Europe despite the recent efforts to standardise and monitor better this waste stream. In 2019, the EU Delegated Decision (2019/1597) was published aiming at establishing a common, standardized methodology for measuring food waste across Member States. The methodology to measure, classify and report food waste data is clearly defined. This should harmonise the approach and therefore the EU should be able to effectively monitor progress towards its waste targets (halving by 2030 the food waste generated, and increasing the capture of food waste, in line with the circular economy principles).

The data used for this metric was taken from a report commissioned by the Bio-based Industries Consortium, which represents the private sector, aiming at strengthening the bio-based industries sector in Europe. BIC’s members cover the whole value chain. The detailed data presented in the report are the result of a survey conducted in EU member states, United Kingdom and Norway.