Overview:
12.3.1(b) Food waste index (Tier II)
The indicator aims to measure the total amount of food that is wasted in tonnes. It complements 12.3.1 (a) Food loss index which is under the custodianship of FAO. Both 12.3.1 (a) and 12.3.1 (b) contribute to the Target 12.3: By 2030 halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
Reducing food waste is critical to maximizing the value of agricultural land and ensuring that natural resources are used in a sustainable way. This indicator will not only help countries identify where food is lost and wasted but also it can provide information which Governments, citizens and the private sector can take in order to reduce food waste.
SDG 12.3.1b calls for a halving of food waste at retail and consumer level. The proposed approach endeavours to balance fitness for purpose, in tracking progress at retail and consumer level, with feasibility of implementation in as many UN member countries as possible. Three levels of measurement are envisaged, to enable flexibility in respect for different policy priorities and capacities for data collection among countries, summarised below:
Level I indicators: Food waste in the waste stream: UNEP is working with WRAP (through a small scale funding agreement) to develop modelled data, complemented with country data, on food waste fraction of MSW waste at country level.
Level II indicators: Food waste generation by supply chain stage and Level III indicators: Food waste and reuse by destination: These indicators must be measured at the national level. Food waste generation in retail, household and out of home consumption stages of food supply chain.
Pilot testing on this indicator was included in the waste capacity building project (DA10).
Resources:
12.3.1b Metadata
12.3.1b Methodology
12.3.1b Data
12.3.1b Contact: Ludgarde Coppens
Partners:
