Key Highlights:
- Surplus food generation in the United States decreased by 2.2% in 2024, totaling around 70 million tons, as reported in Refed’s U.S. Food Waste Report. This marks a reversal from the trend of increasing food waste seen post-pandemic.
- Refed’s latest report, released recently, delves into the various aspects of food waste across the supply chain, highlighting that 85% of surplus food generated ends up being wasted.
- The reduction in overall surplus food generation, equating to a 3.7% decrease in food waste per capita, was largely driven by a significant drop in residential food waste. This trend suggests that the nation may be moving past its peak in food waste generation.
Insights:
The peak in surplus food generation across the supply chain was recorded in 2019 at 74.6 million tons. This figure drastically dropped to 56.4 million tons in 2020 due to pandemic-induced changes in consumer behavior but gradually rose to 71.6 million tons by 2023.
Despite the progress made, there is still ample opportunity to capture and redirect more surplus food away from disposal. The report indicates that the residential sector alone contributes to about a third of surplus food, while farms, manufacturers, food service, and retail sectors also play significant roles.
Both the public and private sectors are actively investing in solutions to manage surplus food, with overall funding for such initiatives increasing by 6% in 2025. Although federal funding saw a decline, private sector commitments surged by 16%, compensating for the loss.
The policy landscape around food waste reduction remains mixed, with varying levels of support at the state and federal levels. While some initiatives have shown promise, others face challenges and funding cuts.
Collaborative efforts with corporate partners have also contributed to reducing food waste, as evidenced by the progress reported by the U.S. Food Waste Pact. Despite these advancements, a substantial portion of surplus food still ends up in disposal, highlighting the need for continued efforts.
As concerns over rising food costs and limited disposal capacities persist, there is a growing recognition among policymakers and business leaders of the importance of food waste reduction. This presents an opportune moment to accelerate efforts in minimizing food waste across the board.