Skip to main content
Food Safety

International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

About the day

The United Nations General Assembly designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW). The day is co-convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the day's events are led jointly by the two organisations.

The goal is to raise awareness to the importance of the problem and its possible solutions at all levels, and to promote global efforts and collective action towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, which targets to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer level by 2030, and reduce food losses along the food production and supply chains.

The European Commission welcomes this initiative and joins FAO, UNEP and other relevant organisations in the global call to action against food loss and waste. Reducing food loss and waste is an integral part of the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system. To accelerate the EU's progress towards this goal, the Commission proposed that, by 2030, Member States reduce food waste by 10%, in processing and manufacturing, and by 30% (per capita), jointly at retail and consumption (restaurants, food services and households).

IDAFLW 2023

For this year's edition, FAO and UNEP issued a call to action for public and private entities from across the food system and consumers to take action to reduce food loss and waste (FLW) to support the transformation of agrifood systems and contribute to the achievement of the 2030 agenda. Further information can be found in the "Get Involved" guide.

Are you planning any events to celebrate the IDAFLW 2023? Share them with a growing community of experts and practitioners on the EU Food Loss and Waste Prevention Hub!

Download our communication kit and help us spread the word!

Food waste reduction target

download

Reducing food loss and waste is a key action to achieve our climate goals

download

Reducing food loss and waste helps food businesses and consumers save money

download

Reducing food loss and waste can save nutritious food for redistribution to those in need

download

Collaboration is key to reduce consumer food waste

download

EU Citizens' recommendations to reduce food waste

download

Below, you can download the set of 6 images in a single Zip file

4 SEPTEMBER 2023
Food Waste - IDAFLW 2023 - images
English
(3.25 MB - ZIP)
Download

 

Past editions