Did you know that approximately 133 billion pounds of food are wasted every year in the U.S.?
Food waste has become an increasingly growing concern, with severe environmental, economic, and social implications. As awareness continues to rise, many wonder: What’s the future of food waste, and what can we do to help?
To help spread awareness and provide in-depth guidance for businesses, this article explores food waste statistics, food waste trends and technologies, the role of regulations in waste management, and more.
Key Takeaways
- According to ReFED, the increase in activity in the fight against food waste in 2023 has set the stage for 2024 to be one of the most pivotal years yet for making real progress in meeting reduction targets.
- The National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics, a strategy that was released by the Biden-Harris Administration on June 12, 2024, aims to help the U.S. meet its food loss reduction goal by highlighting actions that the USDA, EPA, and FDA could take to address food waste.
- A study that surveyed 10,000 consumers and 1,000 large organizations found that 72% of consumers have become more conscious about their level of food wastage, compared to 33% before the pandemic, and that 61% of consumers feel brands, stores, and supermarkets should do more to help reduce waste.
- Businesses can prevent food waste in the future through advanced inventory management, enhanced donation efforts, circular economy practices, and the use of AI and machine learning.
Current State of Food Waste
Roughly one-third of the world’s food is wasted, amounting to about 1.3 billion tons of food each year. This contributes to various environmental concerns, with food waste generating 8 to 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, which is almost five times the total emissions compared to the aviation sector.
In the United States alone, 30-40 percent of the food supply is wasted, costing an estimated $218 billion or 1.3% of GDP annually. Studies show that food waste is the number one material in U.S. landfills, accounting for 24% of all municipal solid waste.
In addition, producing food that is never consumed also wastes the resources invested in its production, including water, land, energy, and labor. In the U.S., the resources lost due to food waste could supply more than 50 million homes with water and energy and occupy an area of agricultural land equivalent to the size of California and New York.
To address the issue of food waste, the USDA and EPA announced the U.S. 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction goal in 2015, a goal that seeks to cut food loss and waste in half by the year 2030. To support this goal, many sustainability efforts have emerged, making way for food waste reduction trends.
Predicted Growth of Food Waste
According to ReFED, the increase in activity in the fight against food waste in 2023 has set the stage for 2024 to be one of the most pivotal years yet for making real progress in meeting reduction targets. While funding is still a large concern, a survey of members in the ReFED Food Waste Funder Circle indicates they expect to allocate more funding to food waste solutions in 2024, relative to 2023.
In fact, they have high expectations for increased funding, estimating that an annual investment of $18 billion over the next ten years can divert 56 million tons of food from being wasted each year, resulting in $78 billion in annual net economic benefit. This would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 113 million metric tons, save six trillion gallons of water, recover the equivalent of four billion meals for those in need, and create 60,000 jobs.
While the future of waste management seems promising, it requires collaboration between governments, businesses, and individuals alike. If current practices remain, then climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions could worsen, resources could be further depleted, and the economic burden could increase.
That said, proper waste management strategies are more important than ever, acting as the key to creating a sustainable world for future generations.
Technological Trends to Solve Food Waste
Using technology for food waste management is a critical food waste trend that optimizes processes and enhances sustainability efforts. Emerging technologies include:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: By implementing AI in food waste management, businesses can optimize supply chains, reduce overproduction, and use predictive analytics to improve demand forecasting. Machine learning algorithms can also be leveraged to forecast spoilage and expiration dates more accurately, enabling better decision-making and minimizing financial losses. Examples of AI applications in grocery stores and restaurants include predictive analytics to improve inventory management and smart refrigeration systems to monitor temperature, humidity, and stock levels.
- Biotechnology Advancements: Emerging biotechnological strategies help address food waste by converting organic waste into renewable energy sources like biogas or biofuels and developing biodegradable packaging that reduces waste and extends shelf life. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can also be used to alter crop genetic makeup, therefore enhancing resistance to pests and diseases and reducing spoilage.
- Internet of Things (IoT) Devices: Smart sensors can be integrated into various processes, allowing businesses to track food freshness and monitor the temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors to prevent spoilage. IoT applications in agriculture have proven to be especially valuable, as they can monitor soil conditions to optimize harvest timing, ensure optimal livestock health, and more. Smart refrigerator technologies are also becoming a popular food waste trend for both households and businesses, allowing them to track expiration dates and reduce waste at the source.
- Blockchain Technology: Blockchain enables businesses to trace the journey of food products in real-time, therefore improving transparency and traceability in the food supply chain. By tracking products from farm to table, blockchain can reduce fraud and ensure food safety, making it a critical tool in the fight against food waste.
- Robotics and Automation: Robots can be used in the sorting and processing of food waste, facilitating recycling and repurposing efforts and increasing landfill diversion. In agriculture, automated systems can be implemented to improve harvesting efficiency and reduce losses; for instance, robots equipped with sensors and AI can ensure only quality items are harvested and improve sorting and grading processes.
- Mobile Applications and Platforms: There’s an increasing number of food waste apps designed to reduce waste, including grocery shopping apps, donation platforms, food waste tracking apps, apps that help users buy unsold food from local eateries at a discounted price, and more. Since mobile applications and platforms can be used in a variety of settings, they can be utilized by businesses and consumers alike, offering practical solutions to reduce food waste.
Shaping Policy: The Role of Regulation and Legislation in the Future of Waste Management
Regulations play a huge role in reducing food waste in the future, as they establish standards, increase awareness, and support environmental goals. One of the events that spurred large-scale change was the announcement of the USDA and EPA’s goal to cut food loss and waste in half by 2030.
To support this goal, the EPA, USDA, and FDA came together to form a Federal Interagency Collaboration, welcoming USAID as another federal partner in 2024. Together, they work towards reducing waste through research, community investments, education and outreach, voluntary programs, public-private partnerships, tool development, technical assistance, event participation, and policy discussion.
Food waste laws and initiatives play a critical role in achieving the United States’ waste reduction goal. There are a variety of existing laws regulating food waste, such as the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which promotes food donations by providing legal protections to donors. There are also tax deductions, state laws, and citywide initiatives in place to advance these efforts.
The National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics, a strategy that was released by the Biden-Harris Administration on June 12, 2024, also represents a huge step towards sustainability. This strategy aims to help the U.S. meet its food loss reduction goal, with four main objectives: prevent food loss, prevent food waste, increase the recycling rate for all organic waste, and support policies that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling.
This strategy highlights actions that the USDA, EPA, and FDA could take to address each objective, such as working with farmers, crop insurance agents, and gleaning organizations to encourage the reduction of on-farm food loss and funding research and approaches to further efforts. Ultimately, it’s part of President Biden’s approach to tackle climate change, feed people, address environmental justice, and promote a circular economy.
With increased regulations and initiatives to support waste reduction, we expect to see more funding, increased participation, and significant advancements in sustainable practices.
Empowering Consumers: Behavior and Education as Catalysts
Recent shifts in consumer awareness and behavior towards sustainability are a step in the right direction towards reducing large-scale waste. These changes are driven by educational campaigns, state regulations, and citywide initiatives aimed at promoting environmentally responsible practices.
Capgemini Research Institute’s report, which surveyed 10,000 consumers and 1,000 large organizations in the food manufacturing and food retail space, found that 72% of consumers have become more conscious about their level of food wastage, compared to 33% before the pandemic. There has also been an 80% growth in online searches for methods to increase the shelf life of food at home in the last 12 months.
This same study shares that 61% of consumers feel brands, stores, and supermarkets should do more to help reduce waste. As more consumers become aware of the environmental impact of food waste, there’s an increasing expectation for companies to implement sustainable practices.
This food waste reduction trend is expected to continue gaining momentum, driven by a surge in school and community programs that promote waste reduction practices and a potential increase in zero-waste lifestyles.
Business Innovations: How Industry Leaders are Tackling Food Waste
So, what are businesses doing to prevent food waste in the future?
There are multiple strategies that can be implemented to address food waste in the supply chain, including:
- Inventory Management: Using advanced inventory management to prevent food waste is a key approach, as it helps businesses optimize stock levels, improve demand forecasting, and ensure optimal storage conditions.
- Surplus Food Redistribution: Partnering with a local food donation organization helps businesses reduce waste at the source, provide food to those in need, and set new standards in their industry.
- Circular Economy Practices: Using a circular economy to tackle food waste involves preventing waste and reusing and regenerating materials to preserve their value; strategies include composting, turning food waste to energy, and more.
- Using AI and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning help businesses manage inventory more efficiently by enhancing demand forecasting, identifying inefficiencies, and providing real-time monitoring.
- IoT Devices: IoT devices provide real-time data on various processes, enabling businesses to quickly address inefficiencies in the supply chain and minimize losses.
- Supply Chain Optimization: Businesses can optimize logistics and storage by leveraging advanced technology, implementing automated systems to reduce human error, and improving collaboration between different parts of the supply chain.
The Trend of Upcycling and Value Addition
Upcycling food waste is the process of transforming food waste and ingredients that would otherwise be discarded into new, valuable products. This approach diverts food from landfills and promotes a circular economy, making it a valuable food waste trend.
There are various ways that businesses can implement upcycling, such as using food waste for animal feed, converting food waste into compost, or creating new food products.
When it comes to consumer perception, we believe that increased awareness can contribute to the widespread acceptance of upcycled products. While some consumers may have concerns about the safety and nutritional value of these items, effective campaigns can positively influence their perception and encourage them to support businesses that use upcycling as a waste management strategy.
For this reason, we believe the future of waste management includes comprehensive upcycling strategies, with increased awareness having the potential to create a new demand for these types of products.
Navigating Challenges in Food Waste Management
There are multiple challenges in food waste management that must be addressed, including:
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Many areas lack the necessary facilities for composting and recycling food waste. This includes insufficient access to industrial composting sites and limited transportation networks for food recovery programs.
- Lack of Funding: Financial constraints hinder the development and scaling of effective waste management programs. Small businesses and startups often struggle to secure funding to implement new technologies or systems that reduce food waste.
- Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating complex regulations related to food safety, waste disposal, and transportation can be challenging for businesses. These regulations can vary significantly by state, adding complexity for companies operating across multiple regions.
While businesses face multiple challenges that affect the success of their waste reduction strategies, improved regulations and increased government funding can help them navigate these obstacles. Over time, we anticipate that a wider variety of businesses will have access to proper infrastructure and receive support through innovative laws and initiatives.
The Bottom Line
The future of food waste is promising. While we still have a long way to go in the fight against this growing issue, increased sustainability efforts make way for significant changes in business operations, consumer behavior, and overall perception of food waste.
If your business is inspired by the food waste reduction trend, then we’d love to work with you to create a tailored waste management strategy that meets your unique business needs. As a leading food waste company, our services include the collection, transportation, treatment, and recycling of all organic materials.
Contact us today to learn more about our services.
Food Waste Future Trends FAQ
Food waste has long-lasting effects, including increased greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, financial losses, increased food insecurity, and more. That said, enhanced waste management efforts have the potential to reduce food waste in the future, making it a top priority in sustainability efforts.
Food waste reduction requires collaboration between governments, businesses, and households alike. Strategies include increased initiatives and funding, improved inventory management, the implementation of food waste technology, and changes in consumer behavior.
The United States 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal seeks to cut food loss and waste in half by the year 2030. To support this goal, various regulations, initiatives, and campaigns have been implemented.
Baily Ramsey, an accomplished marketing specialist, brings a unique blend of anthropological insight and marketing finesse to the digital landscape. Specializing in educational content creation, she creates content for various industries, with a particular interest in environmental initiatives.
