In 2023, the volume of eggs wasted in households increased by 2%, representing just under 4% of total food wasted — one of the conclusions of the Annual Report on Household Food Waste.
The recent MAPA report on household food waste in 2023, published to mark World Food Waste Day on 29 September, indicates that Spanish households wasted a total of 1,183.42 million kilograms (or litres) during 2023, 1.1% more than the previous year, but 5.0% lower than the 2021 volume and 13.2% lower than 2020, meaning the long-term trend is favourable.
The awareness and information campaigns on waste reduction carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in recent years are therefore contributing to changing the habits of Spanish consumers.
In the case of eggs, Spanish households wasted 45,148 tonnes in 2022 and 46,052 tonnes in 2023. This represents an increase of almost 2% in the volume discarded over the past year, accounting for just under 4% of total food wasted.
Despite the slight increase in waste in 2023, waste reduction campaigns are working and are reflected in smaller quantities of food and beverages being thrown away by households compared with previous years such as 2021 or 2020.
Indeed, the latest campaign “Nothing gets thrown away here. Foods with seven lives” from the Ministry of Agriculture focuses on making better use of food by repurposing it creatively, drawing on the concept of a use-it-up economy.
This approach has worked for foods that traditionally have a limited shelf life, such as fruit and vegetables, which were previously discarded in greater quantities: these foods have seen a reduction in the volume wasted. However, the amount of prepared dishes discarded — primarily from the refrigerator — increased.
Food waste and sustainability
One of the most obvious ways to reduce livestock emissions — often overlooked in public debate — is to limit and reduce food waste. According to the FAO, between 40 and 50% of fruit and vegetables are wasted at source, while for meat and dairy products, the FAO estimates losses of around 20%.
Food waste accounts for between 8 and 10% of global emissions, meaning that promoting reduced waste can make a significant contribution to cutting emissions.
Source: INPROVO
Further reading:
-. News on sustainability at NexusAvicultura.com
-. MAPA reports 2015 to 2023 on Household Food Waste