Assessing the economic, social and environmental impacts of food waste reduction targets - A model-based analysis

Halving food waste by 2030 is an ambitious target of the Sustainable Development Goals, echoed by the Farm to Fork Strategy within the European Green Deal. This report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the economy-wide implications for different food waste reduction targets. The study utilizes the further adapted computable general equilibrium model MAGNET and employs a range of sustainability indicators to analyse the economic, social, and environmental impacts associated with the reduction of food waste. A bottom-up analysis based on life cycle assessment is conducted as an additional approach to assess the environmental implications of achieving the food waste reduction targets.
The results show that despite income reductions in the food chain as a consequence of the declining demand, positive effects in other economic areas offset these losses. Additionally, food waste reduction is expected to yield substantial environmental benefits, as well as increase food affordability and financial savings for households.

DE JONG Beyhan ; BOYSEN-URBAN Kirsten; DE LAURENTIIS Valeria ; PHILIPPIDIS George; BARTELINGS H.; MANCINI Lucia; BIGANZOLI Fabrizio; SANYE MENGUAL Esther ; SALA Serenella ; LASARTE LOPEZ Jesus ; ROKICKI Bartlomiej ; M'BAREK Robert

De Jong, B., Boysen-Urban, K., De Laurentiis, V., Philippidis, G., Bartelings, H., Mancini, L., Biganzoli, F., Sanye Mengual, E., Sala, S., Lasarte Lopez, J., Rokicki, B. and M`barek, R., Assessing the economic, social and environmental impacts of food waste reduction targets - A model-based analysis, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2023, doi:10.2760/77251, JRC133971.

2023-07-05

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC133971

978-92-68-04590-9 (online)

1831-9424 (online)

EUR 31559 EN , OP KJ-NA-31-559-EN-N (online)