European Parliament approves EU 2030 food waste targets
Food waste was also valued at over US$152 billion annually, with households responsible for more than half of all waste.
EUROPE – The European Parliament has voted in favour of legally binding EU measures to cut food waste, setting reduction targets for 2030 that member states must now implement.
The vote in Strasbourg on 9 September marks a significant step in the strategy to align food systems with climate goals and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Under the new rules, EU member states must reduce food waste from processing and manufacturing by 10% and achieve a 30% per capita reduction across retail, foodservice, and households by the end of 2030.
Progress will be measured against the annual average levels of food waste generated between 2021 and 2023. Once the legislation comes into force, governments will have 20 months to transpose the rules into national law.
The legislation amends the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, first proposed by the European Commission in 2022.
At the time, Brussels estimated that the EU generated 58.5 million tonnes of food waste in 2020, resulting in approximately 252 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions, which accounted for around 16% of the total climate impact from the EU’s food system.
Food waste was also valued at over €130 billion (Approx US$152 billion) annually, with households responsible for more than half of all waste.
The new targets are designed to accelerate progress towards UN SDG 12.3, which commits countries to halving per capita food waste by 2030.
However, the Commission has admitted that voluntary measures to date have been insufficient, with patchy results across member states.
“Action taken to date in member states is disparate and has not allowed a significant reduction of food waste levels,” the Commission said when presenting its proposal. Binding targets, it argued, would create accountability and ensure that all countries contribute consistently.
Food waste reduction has long been a priority in EU policy. The Commission’s “Farm to Fork” strategy identifies reducing waste as essential to building a sustainable food system, while initiatives such as the EU Platform on Food Losses and Waste have supported knowledge sharing.
Still, campaigners argue that progress has been slow.
Environmental NGO Zero Waste Europe welcomed the adoption of binding targets but criticised the scope.
“In 2015, the EU and its member states committed to SDG 12.3, a 50% reduction of food waste across the entire supply chain,” said policy manager Theresa Mörsen.
“We now lack decisive action to introduce binding targets, while impacts on climate change, land, and water use become ever more challenging. This revision is, unfortunately, a missed opportunity to fully align the food sector with the EU climate goals.”
Despite the criticism, EU lawmakers say the new rules provide a clear framework for member states and businesses to reduce food waste.
Supporters argue that beyond environmental benefits, reducing waste will ease pressure on food affordability and strengthen resilience in Europe’s food system.
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