EU Adopts Binding Legislation to Cut Food Waste

In accordance therewith, member states will be required to cut food waste by 30% in restaurants, retail, and private households by the end of 2030, compared to the average levels from 2021 to 2023. In food production and processing, a 10% reduction is mandated, Lebensmittelpraxis reports.

According to Brussels, the 27 EU countries generate an average of 130 kilograms of food waste and 15 kilograms of textile waste per person annually. The new measures are designed to conserve vital resources such as water, fertilizer, and energy that are used to produce goods that ultimately go to waste.

Each country can choose its own strategy to meet these targets but must already begin drafting action plans.

Germany, for example, has set even more ambitious goals, aiming to halve food waste by 2030. In summer 2023, 14 major retailers joined the “Pact Against Food Waste,” pledging a 30% reduction by 2025 and 50% by 2030. By the end of 2023, participating companies had already achieved a 24% reduction compared to the previous year.

The legislation also targets textile waste, extending beyond clothing to include items like carpets and mattresses. With global textile recycling rates below 1%, the EU aims to counteract the environmental impact of cheap imports, particularly from China, and promote more sustainable consumption.