- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- AwarenessEducationalInternational
- Where:
- International
- Date change rule:
- Typically the first full week of March
- Holiday emoji:
- ♻️
Food Waste Action Week mobilizes individuals and organizations every March to combat the global food waste crisis. Discover practical steps to minimize food loss, from mindful shopping to creative cooking. Join the movement to save resources, reduce emissions, and feed more people.
Want to sponsor Food Waste Action Week? Learn how
Expected Food Waste Action Week Deals
Food Waste Action Week typically sees a surge in awareness campaigns and community-led initiatives rather than commercial deals. Organizations like WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and its partners, including major retailers like Tesco and Sainsbury’s, often launch educational drives, share tips for reducing household waste, and highlight food redistribution efforts. Expect local food banks and charities, such as Feeding America, to receive increased donations and volunteer support. Brands like Olio and Too Good To Go, which connect consumers with surplus food, may see increased engagement and promotions. Look for special events at farmers’ markets and community gardens focused on sustainable food practices. We will update this page with confirmed live initiatives as March approaches.
Platform Guide for Food Waste Action Week
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #FoodWasteActionWeek. Share shocking food waste facts or quick tips for reducing waste at home.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #FoodWasteActionWeek. Post visually appealing recipes that use up leftovers or showcase creative ways to repurpose food scraps.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #FoodWasteActionWeek. Start a discussion in local community groups about collective efforts to tackle food waste.
Food Waste Action Week Hero
Tristram Stuart
History of Food Waste Action Week
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, industrialization and the manufacture of goods dramatically changed how Americans ate food. Food became commercialized and moved from farm to table to factory to table. Families began wasting food because it was cheaper and more accessible. Throwing away food on the street became a serious health problem. It wasn’t until the early 1920s that health officials recognized the need for proper sanitation and instituted waste disposal practices.
After World War II, chemical fertilizers entered the market when the government realized that excess ammonium nitrate, originally produced for explosives during the war, could be applied to crops as a nitrogen fertilizer. Machinery and the development of agricultural chemicals led to an overproduction of food. The U.S. produced so much food that in 1954, the government organized Food for Peace to export excess food to impoverished countries. In 1960, President Johnson declared the “War on Poverty” and attempted to feed low-income citizens.
World War II took the U.S. economy out of the Great Depression and into a new era of prosperity. Consumption and planned obsolescence were encouraged to sustain economic growth. Today, we lose or waste about a third of the food produced globally, and it’s sad not only for the poor who don’t have food but also for our environment. This is why Love Food Hate Waste started the first-ever Food Waste Action Week in 2021 to educate people on food waste and its impact on climate change.
Food Waste Action Week timeline
Food is traded from farm to table, and families waste food because it is cheaper and more accessible.
Since food preservation is purely voluntary, it is portrayed as patriotic.
The Great Depression leads to lower incomes and declining demand causing many crops to rot in heaps or fields.
The U.N. estimates that we waste about 931 million tons of food annually.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Food Waste Action Week
Local businesses can champion Food Waste Action Week by implementing simple yet impactful changes. Restaurants can offer ‘ugly produce’ specials or create dishes from commonly wasted ingredients like vegetable stems. Grocery stores can highlight discounted ‘best by’ items and educate customers on food storage. Any business can organize a food drive for local charities, encouraging employees and customers to donate non-perishable items to prevent them from going to waste.
Food Waste Action Week FAQs
When is Food Waste Action Week?
Food Waste Action Week 2027 is scheduled for Monday, March 1 through Sunday, March 7. It’s a critical time to reflect on our consumption habits and their environmental impact.
How much food is wasted globally each year?
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that 931 million tonnes of food waste were generated in 2027, with households accounting for 61% of this total. This highlights the scale of the challenge.
What is the carbon footprint of food waste?
Preventing food waste is a powerful climate action. Reducing food waste by just 50% globally could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5-2.0 gigatons of CO2 equivalent annually, a significant contribution to climate goals.
What are the main causes of food waste?
Beyond household habits, significant waste occurs in the supply chain due to inefficient harvesting, transportation, and processing. Retailers also contribute by discarding items that don’t meet strict cosmetic standards.
How to Observe Food Waste Action Week
Track your food footprint
You can monitor how much food you and your family throw away at home each week. A great way to start is knowing the right serving sizes for you and only cooking what you can eat. If you struggle to cook exact portions, get creative with your leftovers.
Understand dates
Know the difference between “Use by” versus “Best before.” “Use by” is about safety – you should not eat food after this date (even if it looks or smells fine). “Best before” is about quality – although food won’t be at top quality after this date, it will still be safe to eat for some time after.
Plan your meals
Make a meal plan for the week and write a shopping list. Before you shop, plan out your portions, so you only buy what you need. Take note of what you have at home before shopping.
5 Important Facts About Food Waste
It impacts the environment
Food wastage contributes 8–10% of total manufactured greenhouse gas (G.H.G.) emissions, seriously impacting climate change.
Carbon footprint
If we all stopped wasting bread at home in the U.K. for a year, it could do the same for G.H.G. as planting 5,3 million trees.
How the world is responding
Many regions throughout the U.S. and the world are working toward zero food waste.
Initiative to reduce food waste
Teton County has a waste transfer station, where they collect waste and then transport it to Bonneville Landfill, over 100 miles away.
Putting food waste in perspective
Every day the equivalent of 20 million slices of bread is thrown away in U.K. homes, which could feed 10 million people.
Why Food Waste Action Week is Important
It reduces our carbon footprint
Food Waste Action Week is important to raise awareness of the impact of food waste on our planet. Throwing away good food is a waste of the resources, energy, and water used to produce and store this food. It leaves a huge carbon footprint.
It supports sustainable development goals
Food Waste Action Week aims to create lasting change that will help achieve the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goal of halving the world's food waste by 2030. We only have one earth, and we need to look after it.
It saves you money
We waste 6,5 million tons of food a year in the U.K. alone. Besides the environmental impact, we must reduce this number to help every household save money by fully using each food item they purchase.
Food Waste Action Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | March 9–15 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2027 | March 1–7 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2028 | March 6–12 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2029 | March 5–11 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2030 | March 4–10 | Monday–Sunday |
Social Media Tips for Food Waste Action Week
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