Every year globally, roughly one-third of all food produced – about 1.5 billion tons – ends up in the trash rather than on plates. That loss occurs even while 673 million people struggle with hunger, and 2.3 billion face food insecurity. Wastefulness like this isn’t just a moral crisis – it’s also a climate disaster, responsible for nearly 10 % of all greenhouse gas emissions.
In Italy, there are encouraging signs of change, but the challenge remains enormous. According to recent data from the Waste Watcher International Observatory, Italian households discard over 6.7 million tons of food annually, emitting some 5.5 million tons of CO₂ in the process. During August 2025 alone, average weekly waste per person reached 555.8 grams – a reduction from 683 grams in August 2024. The goal is to reach 369.7 grams per week by 2030.
