Today, waste stands before us as a major problem on a global scale. Of course, the most visible dimension of waste is generally discussed in relation to food waste. For example, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), approximately 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted worldwide every year. This amount corresponds to nearly one third of global food production. FAO estimates place the annual economic cost of this waste at over $1 trillion. Considering that around 800 million people worldwide lack access to sufficient food, the extent to which global inequalities have become striking is clearly evident.
According to the Food Waste Index Report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2021, approximately %61 of global food waste occurs at the household level, %26 in the food service sector, and %13 at the retail stage. This data is significant because it shows that the problem has become a widespread and deeply embedded behavioral pattern. On the other hand, waste is not merely a moral issue; it also generates substantial environmental costs. When FAO and UNEP data are considered together, it becomes clear that roughly %8 to %10 of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from food loss and waste. In this context, the cost of waste is profound. Every wasted product represents not only an item thrown away, but also wasted water, energy, fertilizer, soil, and human labor. For example, according to FAO data, approximately %24 of the water used globally for agriculture is ultimately consumed in the production of food that is later wasted.
