Waste Not, Want Not: Tech Solutions for Reducing Food Waste

Imagine you just went grocery shopping and loaded up on fresh produce, meats, and all the goodies you planned to cook over the week. A few days later, as you open the fridge, you find half of it wilted, expired, or just not appealing anymore. Into the trash it goes. We've all been there, and on a global scale, it’s a monumental problem.

The numbers are staggering: In 2022, over 1.05 billion tons of food ended up wasted, equating to nearly 19% of what’s available to consumers. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after the USA and China, contributing a whopping 8-10% of global emissions. Meanwhile, nearly 783 million people are hungry every day, and about a third of humanity faces food insecurity. The disconnect is alarming and paints a clear picture of why we need to tackle food waste head-on.

But here's where it gets interesting. Technology, often seen as the culprit behind many modern problems, might just be our knight in shining armor for this one. From smart fridges that remind you of what’s about to spoil, to blockchain ensuring transparency in supply chains, tech innovations are poised to transform the way we handle food waste.

In this collaborative article between myself and my friend Wangari Kamau, we’ll explore how these innovations are not only helping reduce waste but also paving the way for a more sustainable food future. Throughout this month, we’ll be releasing each section bit by bit, giving you a taste of how innovative solutions can lead us toward a more sustainable future. Our first section will help us understand the scope of the problem and set the stage for the tech-driven solutions that will follow.

After all, as the old saying goes, "waste not, want not." Let’s start by understanding what we’re up against and how we can measure, manage, and ultimately minimize food waste.

The Scope of the Food Waste Problem

Global Statistics: Measuring the Mountains of Waste

We've all heard the saying, "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it." It’s particularly true when it comes to food waste. Understanding the full extent of the issue is the first step in creating effective solutions. The Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard (FLWARS) provides a comprehensive framework to measure food waste, helping countries and companies track and report their data accurately.

According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, food waste in 2022 reached about 1.05 billion tons. To put it in perspective, that’s enough to fill 3,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools or stack 23 times the height of Mount Everest! This food isn't just vanishing from our plates; it's piling up in landfills, contributing significantly to environmental degradation. Astonishingly, a fifth (19%) of the food available to consumers was wasted across retail, food services, and households, in addition to the 13% lost in the supply chain as estimated by the FAO.

The Global Picture: Household, Retail, and Food Service Waste

Delving deeper, the UNEP report reveals that most of the world’s food waste comes from households. Out of the total food wasted in 2022, households were responsible for 631 million tonnes, equivalent to 60% of the waste. The food service sector contributed 290 million tonnes, while the retail sector accounted for 131 million tons. Imagine a mountain of leftovers that just keeps growing, affecting every corner of the planet.

The average person wastes 79 kg of food annually, which translates to over one billion meals of edible food being thrown away every day globally. That’s 1.3 meals per day for every single person affected by hunger worldwide! It's a bitter irony that while millions face food insecurity, so much is squandered unnecessarily.

Environmental Impact: Food Waste as a Climate Culprit

Food waste isn’t just a moral and economic issue; it’s a serious environmental one too. Waste generates 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—a figure almost five times the total emissions from the aviation sector. The environmental implications of this waste are profound, with food rotting in landfills releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, exacerbating climate change.

And yet, out of the world’s major economies, only four G20 countries (Australia, Japan, UK, and USA) and the European Union have food waste estimates suitable for tracking progress to 2030. Some countries like Canada and Saudi Arabia have made strides with household estimates, while others, such as Brazil, are expected to follow suit later this year.

Despite the urgency, as of 2022, only 21 countries have integrated food waste reduction into their national climate plans. Countries like Cabo Verde, China, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and the United Arab Emirates are among the few that have taken action. The upcoming 2025 NDCs revision process offers a crucial opportunity to ramp up climate ambition by incorporating food waste reduction strategies. Additionally, integrating comprehensive measures to tackle food waste within National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) presents another opportunity for sustainable development.

Economic Impact: Counting the Cost of Carelessness

Beyond the environmental toll, food waste also has severe economic implications. Financial losses from food waste impact both businesses and consumers. Retailers lose revenue from unsold products, while households pay for food that eventually gets discarded. Moreover, there's a hidden cost in managing waste, from collection to disposal, which strains municipal budgets and resources.

Globally, food waste costs an estimated US$1 trillion annually. For businesses, this means lost profits and higher operational costs, as inefficiencies in the supply chain lead to overproduction and spoilage. For consumers, it's money literally thrown away, with a typical family wasting hundreds of dollars worth of food each year.

As the clock ticks, the call to action is clear: we must measure, manage, and mitigate food waste on all fronts. In the following sections, we'll explore how technology is making this possible, transforming the food industry into a more efficient, sustainable system. Till then!!