The UNEP Food Waste Index is a global concept and annual report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that measures the total amount of food and associated inedible parts wasted at the retail, food service, and household levels globally and nationally. It was first published in 2021 as the Food Waste Index Report 2021, building on earlier work, to provide a standardized metric for tracking progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3. The problem it addresses is the massive scale of food waste, which amounted to 1.05 billion tonnes in 2022, while contributing 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and occurring alongside widespread hunger.
The mechanism involves UNEP acting as the custodian, publishing a methodology for countries to measure food waste in kilograms per capita at the consumer level, which includes households, restaurants, and retail outlets. This methodology helps countries establish a baseline and track their progress toward the goal of halving food waste by 2030. The report tracks the total fresh mass of food waste, including inedible parts like bones and shells. The 2024 report found that households were responsible for the largest share of waste, accounting for 60% of the total 1.05 billion tonnes wasted in 2022.
The Index is closely connected to SDG 12.3, which calls for halving per capita global food waste and reducing food losses along production and supply chains. It complements the Food Loss Index (FLI), which is tracked by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and measures losses from post-harvest up to, but excluding, the retail level. The 2024 report built upon its predecessor by incorporating vastly expanded data points and offering enhanced guidance on measurement across the three sectors, while also shifting focus from just measurement to exploring solutions like Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).