International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste marks global call to action

September 29 marks the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, a United Nations-designated day aimed at promoting collective action to reduce food waste and improve global food security.

Organizations such as the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) and the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) are emphasizing the role of innovative packaging design in extending shelf life and protecting produce from farm to consumer. The AIP noted that its Save Food Packaging guidelines have been integrated into the FSSC 22000 food safety management standard, impacting approximately 40,000 companies.

Regional reports highlight the scale of the issue. In the European Union, nearly 59 million tons of food are wasted annually, valued at approximately 132 billion euros. In Montenegro, estimates suggest the average citizen discards between 70 and 80 kilograms of food per year, prompting calls for systemic national solutions and better donation frameworks to support populations at risk of poverty.

Efforts to combat waste focus on both industrial and household levels. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 aims to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030. Practical recommendations for consumers include better meal planning, proper storage temperatures, and distinguishing between ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ dates.