Food Waste – EC Library Guide: Selected publications
A selection of key publications
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Building evidence on food waste prevention interventions
De Laurentiis, V., Casonato, C., Mancini, L., García Herrero, L., Valenzano, A. et al., Building evidence on food waste prevention interventions, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/684291
On 5 July 2023, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal to set legally binding food waste reduction targets to be achieved by Member States (MSs) by 2030. The results of the first EU-wide monitoring of food waste levels carried out in 2020 will serve as a baseline to assess progress towards the targets. The impact assessment of this legislative proposal stated that the targets set are feasible, but in order to meet them, EU MSs need to accelerate their progress. This report aims at providing the evidence to support MSs and stakeholders across the food supply chain in identifying promising strategies to reduce food waste, in order to accelerate progress in this direction.
To this end, a literature review of food waste reduction interventions was conducted and a survey was launched to collect information on existing interventions. Their evaluation can provide useful information on how to design, implement, and evaluate successful interventions. Finally, the potential of the life cycle assessment methodology in supporting the design of interventions that can successfully improve the environmental sustainability of the food system, by identifying potential environmental trade-offs in early design stages, was investigated.
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Estimating food waste generated and packaging placed on the market at national level – Food waste model updates version 3.0
De Laurentiis, V., Biganzoli, F., Valenzano, A. and Serenella, S., Estimating food waste generated and packaging placed on the market at national level – Food waste model updates version 3.0, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/21595
The aim of this report is twofold. Firstly, it illustrates the latest refinements applied to a food waste model based on material flow analysis, which performs yearly estimations of food waste generated by food category and stage of the food supply chain. Since 2019, the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed this harmonized model to estimate food waste generation as a tool to assess data reported by MSs on food waste generation. Earlier versions of the model are presented in De Laurentiis et al. (2021) and De Laurentiis et al. (2023). The refinement presented in this report involved updating underlying data sources used to estimate food losses at primary production and food waste across the supply chain, refining the modelling of certain food groups at manufacturing, distribution and consumption stages, and adding a new product (i.e. sugarcane) to the model.
The resulting model estimated for year 2021 a generation of 73 million tonnes of solid food waste (fresh mass) across the food supply chain at EU level. Secondly, the report aims to present a methodology to estimate the generation of packaging waste linked to food and beverages consumption. The methodology is based on the use of Euromonitor International’s Packaging industry research, which provides annually updated information on consumer product sales by their packaging (differentiated by typology, size, and material) including food and beverage products. The total packaging materials associated to the retail sales of 27 food and beverage product categories, in 19 Member States (MSs) between 2008 and 2022 are estimated. The developed methodology will be used to support MSs in the mandatory reporting of packaging waste quantities, and will be used to benchmark the quantities reported, in the context of the monitoring of the attainment of the recycling targets set out in the Packaging Directive (EU 2018/825).
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EU biomass flows: Update 2022
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, P. Gurría, et al. Publications Office of the European Union, 2022.
The EU Biomass Flows tool is a visualisation, in the form of Sankey diagrams, of the flows of biomass for each sector of the bioeconomy, from supply to uses including trade. It displays the harmonised data from the various Joint Research Centre (JRC) units contributing to the BIOMASS Assessment study of the JRC3. This edition contains, among others, four areas: migration to EU27 aggregation, redesign of the flows for woody biomass Update of the data with the latest available years and visualisation of food waste flows. The most important changes of this new release are focused on four areas: migration to EU27 aggregation, redesign of the flows for woody biomass Update of the data with the latest available years and visualisation of food waste flows.
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EU food system monitoring framework – From concepts to indicators
Katalin Tóth, Szvetlana Ács, Karin Aschberger, Giulia Barbero Vignola, Stephanie Bopp, et al., European Commission, Joint Research Centre, 2025.
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) the European Commission service providing evidence-based science and knowledge to support EU policies has set up its first monitoring framework to provide information on progress towards a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system, built on a set of environmental, economic and social (including health) indicators. More than 350 indicators on underpinning policies were screened and their suitability assessed for the intended objective. The selected indicators have been visualised in a monitoring dashboard, an information system and a communication tool created by the JRC. This report summarises the main steps taken to develop the system, the principles governing the selection of the indicators and plans for further work.
This EU monitoring framework does not constitute a final product. The various Commission services acknowledge data gaps and intend to address them to ensure a more comprehensive approach and reflect new policy priorities. The monitoring framework will provide policymakers, stakeholders and citizens with relevant information about the sustainability of the EU food system. Considering the significant impact of the food system on the EU economy and citizens, the monitoring tool intends to assess the cumulative impact of all actions related to competitiveness, the environment and health in the EU.
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Food 2030: Green and resilient food systems - conference outcome report, 4-5 December 2023, Brussels
European Commission: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Bizzo, G., Lledó San Mauro, F., Lueth, D., Lutzeyer, H.-J. et al., Food 2030: Green and resilient food systems - conference outcome report, 4-5 December 2023, Brussels, Bizzo, G.(editor), Lledó San Mauro, F.(editor), Lueth, D.(editor), Lutzeyer, H.-J.(editor), Luvarà, G.(editor), Meloni, G.(editor), Molina Villanueva, J.(editor), Pellegrino, G.(editor), Scalia, R.(editor) and Schoumacher, C.(editor), Publications Office of the European Union, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/959042
This report captures the main findings of the European Commission (EC) Conference entitled "Food 2030: Green and resilient food systems", which was held in Brussels on 4-5 December 2023. The event, which represents an important milestone in the EC's Food 2030 process, served to showcase promising Research and Innovation (R&I) outcomes contributing to sustainable food systems transformation in Europe and beyond. Furthermore, the conference provided a space for multi-stakeholder reflection and dialogue towards envisioning future R&I needs.
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Food 2030 – Pathways for action 2.0 – R&I policy as a driver for sustainable, healthy, climate resilient and inclusive food systems
European Commission: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Bizzo, G., Fabbri, K., Gajdzinska, M., Haentjens, W. et al., Food 2030 – Pathways for action 2.0 – R&I policy as a driver for sustainable, healthy, climate resilient and inclusive food systems, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/365011
This publication provides an update on the European Commission’s Food 2030 initiative and is meant to guide future research and innovation policy reflections related to Horizon Europe, the farm-to-fork strategy, the European Green Deal and beyond. The report sets out 11 pathways for action where research and innovation can concretely deliver co-benefits related to nutrition, climate, circularity and communities, at multiple levels: from local to international. It also underlines that a systemic interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach to research and innovation is crucial for success and improved impact. Transformations are not only technical and academic; they also encompass social, legal, economic, financial, ethical and philosophical dimensions, which need to be fully embedded in future R&I policy and programmes.
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Food futures: Sustainable food system
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Stummerer, S., Hablesreiter, M. Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
The Farm to Fork strategy is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal. It strives for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy presents the policy perspective: the case for action; the need to build a new food chain; the imperative for a just and fair transition benefitting all actors within the EU and beyond. Essentially, it puts forward the grand plan for sustainable food systems.
But what about the people perspective? How do our values, our culture and our individual views of the world influence how far policy can drive change in the way we think about food, and how willing we are to really embrace sustainable food systems? Such pivotal questions are not only scientific in nature, so we looked to the JRC’s Art & Science programme and our artists in residence, Sonja Stummerer and Martin Hablesreiter (honey & bunny) to help us explore what goes into the making of a sustainable sandwich, and how will it taste?! Although this beautifully illustrated book is the unique creation of Sonja and Martin, their research was enriched through lively engagement with scientists from across the JRC who work in numerous fields linked to the complex world of sustainable food systems. Our hope is that the book serves to create healthy conversation and debate, to make the implicit explicit, and to explore collectively the emotional challenges that lie on the horizon.
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Key figures on the European food chain – 2024 edition
European Commission: Eurostat, Key figures on the European food chain – 2024 edition, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2785/5897613
Key figures on the European food chain provides a selection of indicators on the food chain, from primary production in agriculture and fisheries through to consumption. Data are presented for the European Union (EU), EU countries and European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) countries. For some readers, this publication may offer an introduction to agriculture, fisheries and food chain statistics, while others can use it as a starting point to explore further a wide range of data and information. These are freely available on Eurostat’s website and in Statistics Explained.
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Literature review on drivers of consumer food waste and levers for behavioural change: The evolution of the literature on consumer food waste prevention
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Vittuari, M., García Herrero, L., Caldeira, C., et al. Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
Consumer food waste at the household level results from a complex set of behaviours. These are influenced by psychological, sociocultural and economic factors such as awareness, attitudes, knowledge, emotions and context-related factors such as available technologies, referred to in this report as ‘drivers’. Opportunities to reduce food waste systematically and practically, referred to in this report as ‘levers’, are distinct from drivers but have rarely been documented in previous studies. The identification of drivers and levers helps in designing effective interventions to tackle consumer food waste. The report aims to review drivers, levers and interventions relating to consumer food waste and to identify potential interventions to stimulate behavioural change.
To achieve a systematic overview of food waste drivers and levers, this study builds upon (i) a systematic literature review conducted on scientific and grey literature published between 2010 and 2021, (ii) a revised version of the motivation–opportunity–ability framework distinguishing between micro, meso and macro situational factors and (iii) an iterative feedback mechanism enabling consultation with the experts of the European Consumer Food Waste Forum, which was established by the European Commission in 2021. Drivers and levers of consumer food waste are identified, categorised, analysed and discussed in relation to the revised motivation–opportunity–ability framework. This review suggests that further research is needed to understand household food waste better, to develop more evidence-based interventions and to devise standardised methods to measure their impacts.
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Preventing waste in Europe – Progress and challenges, with a focus on food waste
European Environment Agency, Preventing waste in Europe – Progress and challenges, with a focus on food waste, Publications Office of the European Union, 2025, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2800/9052533
Waste prevention is central to the circular economy and plays a critical role in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It helps reduce resource extraction, manufacturing and transportation, and lowers carbon emissions. Because of this, waste prevention protects natural ecosystems and enhances the EU′s strategic autonomy and materials supply security. The Waste Framework Directive (WFD) prioritises waste prevention as the most effective strategy for reducing environmental impacts and improving resource efficiency. It mandates Member States to implement waste prevention programmes (WPPs).
These programmes promote sustainable consumption, improve product design and reduce the use of harmful substances. A key objective is to decouple economic growth from waste generation. Mandated by the WFD, the European Environment Agency (EEA) evaluates and reports on EU waste prevention policies in a biennial report. This report assesses policy implementation and waste generation trends as well as progress towards decoupling (1) waste from economic growth and advancing a circular economy. Using an indicator framework, the report presents the latest data and highlights trends, challenges and best practices. Particular attention is given to food waste, providing an in-depth analysis of progress and challenges in this area. This focus is especially timely considering the proposed food waste reduction targets in the revised WFD.
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Reducing food loss and waste – Examples of voluntary agreements and other forms of collaborations across Europe – Deliverable of the EU platform on food losses and food waste
European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.
This report provides a extensive overview of voluntary agreements (VAs) on food loss and waste reduction across Europe, detailing approaches, impacts and lessons learned, drawing from information gathered from 13 EU Member States, examples from Norway and the UK, and one international coalition of stakeholders as well as three other forms of collaboration. The primary strength of VAs lies in their collaborative nature, which unites governments, businesses, NGOs, and knowledge providers in a shared objective to prevent and reduce food loss and waste. As the examples from this report demonstrate, the collaborative approach fosters a culture of innovation and empowers stakeholders to develop tailored solutions suited to their specific circumstances. The strength of Vas lies in their capacity to engage stakeholders across the entire food supply chain.
From producers to consumers, each sector plays an important role in preventing food losses and waste. The success of VAs hinges on several key elements: taking ownership, setting commitments, sharing knowledge, and enabling public-private collaboration. Flexibility and adaptability serve as the guiding principles of successful VAs. Stakeholders are given different possibilities to tailor strategies and initiatives to their specific needs and circumstances. This agility enables swift responses to changing conditions and regulatory requirements, ensuring that food waste prevention and reduction efforts remain effective and pertinent in a dynamic landscape. By raising awareness of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of food waste, these agreements also inspire behaviour change and promote sustainable consumption practices. Through education and engagement, individuals and food businesses alike are empowered to take action to reduce food waste.
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Reducing consumer food waste – Recommendations for food businesses and other organisations
European Commission: Joint Research Centre, Reducing consumer food waste – Recommendations for food businesses and other organisations, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/45916
Food waste is a pressing issue with significant environmental, social and economic consequences. In the EU, nearly 59 million tonnes of food waste (131 kg/inhabitant) are generated each year. The largest share of food waste is generated in households and food services. The food groups that are most commonly wasted are vegetables, fruits and cereals. Consumers can change many behaviours that lead to food waste (e.g. cooking too much), but their capacity to prevent food waste is influenced by a number of factors (e.g. related policies, lifestyle factors). Reducing consumer food waste requires collaboration between all actors in the food system, in which food businesses and other organisations play a key role.
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Reducing consumer food waste – Recommendations for policymakers
European Commission: Joint Research Centre, Reducing consumer food waste – Recommendations for policymakers, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/748192
Food waste is a pressing issue with significant environmental, social and economic consequences. In the EU, nearly 59 million tonnes of food waste (131 kg/inhabitant) are generated each year. The largest share of food waste is generated in households and food services. The food groups that are most commonly wasted are vegetables, fruits and cereals. Consumers can change many behaviours that lead to food waste (e.g. cooking too much), but their capacity to prevent food waste is influenced by a number of factors (e.g. related policies, lifestyle factors). Reducing consumer food waste requires collaboration between all actors in the food system and efforts to address the issue in a broader context (e.g. as part of actions aiming to promote the adoption of healthy, sustainable diets). Policymakers play a key role in this.
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Reducing consumer food waste – Recommendations for schools
European Commission: Joint Research Centre, Reducing consumer food waste – Recommendations for schools, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/68
Food waste is a pressing issue with significant environmental, social and economic consequences. In the EU, nearly 59 million tonnes of food waste (131 kg/inhabitant) are generated each year. The largest share of food waste is generated in households and food services. The food groups that are most commonly wasted are vegetables, fruits and cereals. Consumers can change many behaviours that lead to food waste (e.g. cooking too much), but their capacity to prevent food waste is influenced by a number of factors (e.g. related policies, lifestyle factors). Reducing consumer food waste requires collaboration between all actors in the food system, in which educational establishments play a key role.
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Tools, best practices and recommendations to reduce consumer food waste – A compendium
Candeal, T., Brüggemann, N., Bruns, H., Casonato, C., Diercxsens, C. et al., Tools, best practices and recommendations to reduce consumer food waste – A compendium, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/967005
Food waste is a pressing issue that has significant environmental, social, and economic consequences. In line with its commitment to the global Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3 of halving food waste by 2030, the European Union (EU) has implemented an extensive action plan to tackle this problem. In the EU, and many other parts of the world, most food waste occurs at the consumption stage. In order to tackle this hotspot of food waste generation, the European Consumer Food Waste Forum (ECFWF) - a pilot project involving experts from diverse backgrounds - has identified six intervention types to reduce consumer food waste, as well as recommendations for policymakers and other key players.
The document, presented as a compendium, shows the main findings of this work, emphasizing the importance of taking a systemic approach that considers the key drivers and levers of change when targeting food waste reduction at the consumer level. It brings together tools, best practices and recommendations which policymakers, researchers, businesses, and practitioners can draw on to take action to reduce consumer food waste, in cooperation with other stakeholders. The compendium encourages collaboration and concrete actions to address food waste and promote the establishment of sustainable food systems.
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Working group report – Food and health – Green Deal Projects Support Office – January 2025
European Commission: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Raffaeli, V., Roscoe, J., Pacheco, I., Vilcu, R. et al., Working group report – Food and health – Green Deal Projects Support Office – January 2025, Publications Office of the European Union, 2025, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/454026
This working group report from the Green Deal Projects Support Office offers a detailed overview of groundbreaking initiatives in food systems and health. From sustainable agriculture and reducing food waste to addressing health challenges through innovative solutions, the report highlights the collective efforts of projects tackling these critical areas. Key achievements include collaborative research, knowledge-sharing platforms, and policy contributions that support resilient food systems and healthier communities. Read the report to discover how these projects are driving progress toward a sustainable future.
- Last Updated: Jul 7, 2025 2:28 PM
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