Food Waste Sources
Understanding where food waste occurs in the supply chain and how we can address it together.
39%
Households
31%
Retail & Distribution
18%
Restaurants & Food Service
12%
Food Processing
Household Food Waste
The largest source of food waste comes from our homes. Improper planning, over-purchasing, confusion about date labels, and poor storage practices contribute to this waste.
Retail & Distribution
Supermarkets and retailers discard food due to cosmetic standards, overstocking, damaged packaging, and approaching expiration dates.
Restaurants & Food Service
Restaurants, cafes, and food service operations often generate waste through overproduction, improper storage, and large portion sizes.
Food Processing
During manufacturing and processing, food waste occurs due to trimming, quality control, equipment inefficiencies, and production errors.