UNESCO event highlights urgent action on food waste for International Day of Zero Waste
On 31 March 2026, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris hosted the fourth observance of the International Day of Zero Waste under the theme “Zero waste starts on your plate.” Organized by the Permanent Delegation of Türkiye to UNESCO, the event convened high-level representatives to promote waste prevention and circular economy approaches.
The programme featured interventions from senior UNESCO officials and Member States, including Mr Steven Stone, Deputy Director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division.
In his remarks, he highlighted the scale of the global waste challenge, noting that the world generates between 2.1 and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with projections reaching 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.
Focusing on food systems, he emphasized that over US$1 trillion worth of food is wasted each year, while in 2022, 783 million people faced hunger and 1.05 billion tonnes of food—19% of food available to consumers—was wasted.
He further noted that food loss and waste account for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and up to 14% of methane emissions, highlighting the importance of reducing waste as a near-term climate solution.
The Deputy Director closed offering practical solutions across individual, community and systemic levels, and highlighted UNEP’s work, including the newly launched “Recipe of Change.” This joint initiative between UNEP and UN Tourism, housed under the One Planet Network Sustainable Tourism Programme, aims to mobilize the tourism sector to reduce food waste and support more sustainable food systems.
The event concluded with the signing of the Zero Waste Commitment and a series of exchanges among participants, reaffirming the importance of continued collaboration on zero-waste and food systems agendas.
