Increasingly less food waste in the Netherlands

Dutch people are wasting less and less food, especially households. Since 2015, we are throwing away 23% less food. In 2022, Dutch people wasted an average of 33.4 kg of food per person at home. But, about a quarter of all food in the Netherlands is still wasted.

The goal of halving food waste by 2030 will not be met unless additional measures are taken. The ministry is working with the Nutrition Centre and the Foundation Together Against Food Wastage to combat wastage. There are promising farm-to-table initiatives, but more effort is needed. 

Mandatory monitoring

Minister Piet Adema of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) wants to explore mandatory monitoring and reporting of food waste for the food sector and a decision on additional measures to combat waste is expected before the summer. Across the food chain, there are initiatives to combat waste, such as preventing return flows of bread and processing unavoidable residual flows into animal feed for circular production of meat, dairy and eggs.

Sustainable world

According to WUR's new figures, between 97 and 123 kilos per Dutch person were wasted across the food chain in 2020. That is a decrease from 5.8% to a maximum of 15.8% compared to 2015, converted by capita. Minister Adema stressed that wasting food not only costs money, but also water, energy and other raw materials. By reducing waste, we contribute to a more sustainable world and maintain appreciation for the farmer's craftsmanship.

Rijksoverheid.nl