Green Deal Projects Leading the Way in Food Waste Reduction

Green Deal-funded projects are stepping up with innovative solutions based on the 3Rs - reduce, reuse, and recycle. From smart labelling to turning waste into biofuels and packaging, they are helping to build a more circular and climate-friendly food system. The Green Deal Projects Support Office has published an article on tackling food waste in the EU and it features, among others, ZeroW and the work being done surrounding FLW.

Food waste remains a major challenge in the European Union, with around 20% of all food produced going to waste. Beyond the ethical and social implications - especially when nearly one in ten EU citizens cannot afford a full meal every second day - food waste also leaves a heavy environmental footprint, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, water and land use, and environmental degradation.

In response, several EU-funded projects, including ZeroW, under the Green Deal Call are working actively to reduce food waste by applying the 3R principles: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

These projects are developing innovative solutions to prevent food loss throughout the supply chain - from farm to fork. Their efforts range from smart food labelling and local food redistribution platforms to digital mapping tools, AI-driven quality control systems, and turning food waste into useful by-products like biofuels, cosmetics, and biodegradable packaging.

These initiatives demonstrate that reducing food waste is not just about individual choices - it requires coordinated action, policy support, and innovation at every level of the food system.

Explore how EU-funded projects are tackling food waste head-on and putting circular thinking into practice:

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