September 29

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

Join the global movement and help reduce food waste on International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste - every effort counts!

Yearly Date

September 29

Observed

Internationally

Introduction

Let's celebrate International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on Sept. 29 by taking action to reduce food waste! We can all make a difference in helping to raise awareness on this important issue, as around one-third of the food produced in the world is lost or wasted every year. This day was first established by the United Nations in December 2019 with the goal of reducing the amount of food that goes to waste and increasing efficiency in food production. So join us in showing your commitment to fighting global hunger and reducing our carbon footprint – let's work together to make a difference!

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste Timeline

1945

United Nations Founded

In an effort to promote peace and global cooperation, the United Nations (UN) was established, later becoming a key player in the fight against food loss and waste.

1974

World Food Conference

The UN's first World Food Conference takes place, recognizing the world's food crisis and the need for international cooperation in managing the world's food supply.

1996

Global Effort Against Hunger

World Food Summit commits to halving the number of undernourished people by 2015, highlighting the gravity of food waste and loss.

2011

Food Waste Report Created

FAO publishes first-ever report on global food losses and waste. Results motivate UN to work earnestly towards reducing food waste.

2015

SDGs Established

UN establishes Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG12, aiming to halve per capita global food waste and reduce food losses by 2030.

2019

First Food Loss and Waste Day

The United Nations General Assembly proclaims September 29 as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

How to Celebrate International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

1 Reduce food waste

Start by taking steps to reduce the amount of food waste you create. Try to only buy what you need, use up leftovers and compost kitchen scraps.

2 Share extra food

If you have extra food that you are not able to eat or use, consider sharing it with friends or donating it to a food pantry. There are also apps that can help connect people with extra food with those in need.

3 Support local farmers

Buying local produce from farmers, who are using sustainable growing methods, can help reduce the amount of food loss and waste in the supply chain.

4 Grow your own food

Growing your own food is an excellent way to reduce food loss and waste. Plant a garden, start a compost pile and get to know your local farmers markets.

5 Educate others

Help spread awareness about the issue of food loss and waste by talking to family and friends about the importance of reducing food waste. Share facts and stories on social media or host an event to help educate people about the issue.

Why International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is Important

Food loss and waste has a large environmental impact

Food that is wasted requires energy, water and land resources to produce, but when this food is wasted it goes to landfill where it decomposes and emits potent greenhouse gases. Not only that, but the resources needed to transport uneaten food creates additional carbon emissions and pollution.

Food loss and waste has an economic impact

In addition to the environmental costs of food waste, there are also financial ones. Wasted food means lost revenue for businesses and individuals – both in terms of money spent on production and transportation, as well as the potential profits from sales of those products.

Reducing food loss and waste helps fight hunger

Food loss in developing countries contributes significantly to malnutrition and starvation. By reducing our global food losses, we’re able to redistribute what would have been wasted food to those in need around the world – helping fight poverty while helping those on the brink of starvation.