Food waste accounts for 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, mostly through methane released when food rots in landfills. The UN Food Waste Breakthrough initiative aims to halve food waste by 2030 under SDG 12.3. Japan has already hit the target, while the UK and Netherlands have cut waste by over 20 percent, showing the goal is reachable. About 60 percent of food waste happens in households, where the average person discards more than their own body weight in food each year. The UN says the wasted food could provide 1 billion meals, enough to feed hungry populations at scale. Countries like Tanzania are testing separate food waste collection, and the initiative is expanding to Colombia and Mauritius. Measurement remains a weak point. Many low-income countries lack national data, and the UN relies on studies from universities or cities. The EU now requires member states to report food waste every one to two years, which could serve as a model for global tracking. Without better data, it will be hard to verify whether the 2030 target is being met.
