France Faces Food Waste Challenge: 25 Kilos Per Person Annually
According to a recent study by Too Good To Go, each French citizen discards an average of 25 kilos of edible food every year, which translates to one meal thrown away weekly. This alarming statistic, released on September 23, highlights a significant issue in food waste management in France. The waste not only represents a loss of food but also amounts to a financial burden of nearly 157 euros per person annually.
Meleyne Rabot, the new general manager of Too Good To Go, emphasized the environmental impact of this waste. Each meal wasted corresponds to the unnecessary use of 1.3 km² of agricultural land and 390 liters of water weekly, equating to over two bathtubs of water. Additionally, this waste contributes to the emission of more than one kilogram of CO2 equivalent per person each week.
The report draws on Eurostat data and findings from the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, which revealed that in 2021, French households discarded 1.7 million tonnes of edible food. This figure indicates that consumers are the least efficient link in the food supply chain, accounting for 39% of food waste. In contrast, 22% occurs during primary production, 14% during agro-industrial processing, 12% in distribution, and 13% in consumption outside the home.
When considering the entire food chain, a staggering 4.3 million tonnes of edible food is wasted, with total food waste in France reaching 8.8 million tonnes when including inedible parts like bones and peelings. Notably, France's per capita food waste stands at 129 kg, slightly below the European average of 131 kg.
Too Good To Go, established in 2016, has made strides in combating food waste, claiming to have prevented the waste of over 350 million meals and boasting 100 million users across 19 countries. The organization encourages various practices to reduce food waste, such as buying homemade products, using reusable containers, and purchasing in bulk.
