World Zero Waste Day: You don’t have to aim for zero, even a third less food waste is a huge step

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 03. 30. 11:33

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On March 30, World Zero Waste Day, we often hear: let’s not produce waste. But what if we didn’t start with zero? In Hungary, about 60 kilograms of food per person goes into the trash every year in households, but one third of this could be prevented with more attention. In other words, “zero waste” is not the key, the first realistic step is to reduce waste. Two current initiatives of the Maradék Nélkül Foundation are now providing practical help in this regard: a national food waste survey and a poster competition aimed at children.

The International Day of Zero Waste is held every year at the initiative of the UN to draw attention to sustainable consumption and the possibilities for reducing waste production. The highlight of 2026 is food waste. Based on research by the Maradék Nélkül Foundation and the University of Veterinary Medicine, a significant portion of household food waste can be avoided through conscious planning and changing a few simple habits. For the remaining portion, the “zero waste” approach helps us to consciously manage the waste generated: for example, by collecting bio-waste or composting.

But how do we get started? The first step is surprisingly simple: we need to look at what we are actually throwing away. The foundation’s national food waste survey, for which families are still waiting to apply, offers a practical opportunity to do this. Participants record the food they throw away for a week, which in itself contributes to making more conscious decisions. Experience shows that the measurement helps to make visible those everyday situations (such as excessive shopping or unused leftovers) that are the main causes of waste. Awareness is tangible not only from an environmental but also from an economic perspective: in the case of a four-person household, food waste means an average annual loss of 160,000 forints. This amount can be saved simply by reducing waste, which can save the families the cost of even more large purchases. In addition, valuable prizes await those participating in the survey!

The research can bring about change not only at the individual level: the results will also be incorporated into the attitude-shaping activities of the National Food Chain Safety Office’s Leftovers program, contributing to more conscious operation in as many households as possible. For long-term change, it is also essential to address the younger generation, since if a conscious attitude is developed in childhood, its effect lasts for decades. To this end, a poster competition is being launched within the framework of the FoodCIRCUS international project, in which students can creatively formulate the message of reducing food waste and become active players in shaping attitudes through their own perspectives. An international jury will evaluate the posters and award the best ones with valuable prizes.

Application information:
– Apply for the survey: https://maradeknelkulalapitvany.hu/felmeres/
– Apply for the poster-drawing competition for children: https://www.interreg-central.eu/news/one-month-left-to-apply-to-the-young-food-waste-fighters-poster-challenge-2/

The lead researcher of the survey is Dr. Gyula Kasza, associate professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine, founder of the No Waste program and the No Waste Foundation.