Food waste to be halved by 2030

Pressure from Friends of the Earth and people across the continent, including 60,000 petition signatories, has resulted in new targets which aim to cut food waste in half by 2030.

In the UK alone last year, over 10 million tonnes of food was thrown away.  Today’s vote means that countries across the EU, including Britain, have formally pledged to try and cut their food waste by 50% by 2030.

Vitally, these targets aim to halve food waste right from primary production stage to the consumer, whereas a version proposed by the Commission last year pledged only to halve retail and consumer food waste.

Britain is set to leave Europe by 2019, by which time these changes should come into force, and put pressure on the UK government to take responsibility for food waste.

Kierra Box, food campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

“This is a significant vote because for the first time, we have a really clear, shared plan of how food waste can be reduced and prevented. With the UK throwing out so much edible food, it’s clear that waste on this scale has to stop.

“However, if we’re serious about slashing food waste we need to stop just aiming for change, and instead make it happen. It was a lost opportunity that today’s targets aren’t binding which means countries can wriggle out of their commitments.”

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.