30 March 2026
International Zero Waste Day
The theme is food waste.
/ The Challenge
Food waste is a global challenge.
In 2022, 1.05 billion tonnes of food were wasted at the retail, food service and household levels [1]. Food loss and waste cost the global economy an estimated USD 1 trillion a year [1].
This is not only a problem for wealthy countries. Average household food waste differs by just 7 kg per person per year between high-income, upper-middle-income and lower-middle-income countries [1].
/ Climate
Food waste is a climate issue.
Food loss and waste account for an estimated 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, almost five times the emissions of aviation [1]. When food is wasted, the land, water, energy and labour used to produce it are wasted too.
/ Methane
Organic waste and methane.
The impact does not end when food becomes waste. Disposed of in the wrong conditions, it generates methane.
/ The opportunity
Why now.
In 2026, the international agenda is converging on this issue.
World Cleanup Day 2026
From Clean Plates to Clean Cities
Hosted with UN-Habitat.
November 2026 · Antalya
COP31
Brings a dedicated Resilient Cities agenda.
The answer is not to manage more waste, but to prevent it, and to keep what cannot be prevented in productive use. Prevention also pays: across nearly 1,200 business sites, every dollar invested in reducing food loss and waste saved a median of around USD 14 [10].