Everyday choices and European goals: the path to reducing food waste

Reducing food waste is not only a matter of major political strategies: much of the difference is made by the everyday habits of each of us.

The solutions for reducing waste are simple, practical and begin in daily life. Planning food shopping based on what is already in the fridge or pantry, keeping the refrigerator at around 4°C, freezing and portioning food correctly, choosing “ugly but good” and seasonal products: these are all actions that help not only to reduce waste, but also to save money.

In the same way, giving leftovers a new life with a little creativity and correctly separating organic waste helps reduce environmental impact and restore value to the natural cycle.

Good domestic practices alone, however, are not enough: a clear policy framework is needed. For this reason, the European Union has set binding targets to be achieved by 2030. Each country will have to reduce food waste by 10% at the processing and manufacturing stages, and by 30% per capita in the final stretch of the food chain: supermarkets, food service and households.

These are not abstract percentages. They will be measured against the 2021–2023 average, using a common methodology that allows transparent comparisons between Member States. In practice, generic campaigns will not be enough: plans, indicators and checks will be required.

The effects will be tangible. Supermarkets will be called upon to encourage the purchase of products close to their expiry date through discounts and dedicated boxes, to facilitate the donation of unsold food and to work with local redistribution networks.

Restaurants will have to rethink menus and portion sizes, offer standardized doggy bags and regularly measure food waste. Municipalities, finally, will be responsible for improving the separate collection of organic waste: every kilogram of food that avoids landfill means less methane released into the atmosphere and more compost for agricultural soils.

Food waste is not just a waste-management problem. It concerns household lifestyles, business competitiveness and the future of local communities.

Learning how to reduce it means spending less, using resources more efficiently and making a concrete contribution to the fight against climate change.