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Food Waste Generation in Germany in the Scope of European Legal Requirements for Monitoring and Reporting

Author

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  • Dominik Leverenz

    (Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Felicitas Schneider

    (Thünen—Institute of Market Analysis, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Bundesallee 63, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Thomas Schmidt

    (Thünen—Institute of Market Analysis, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Bundesallee 63, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Gerold Hafner

    (Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Zuemmy Nevárez

    (Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Martin Kranert

    (Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, University of Stuttgart, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany)

Abstract

The European Commission and the German government are committed to the United Nations SDG target 12.3 of reducing food waste along production chains and halving it at retail and consumer levels by 2030. European member states are required to monitor national food waste levels and report annual progress to the European Commission from 2020 onward. In this regard, the main objective of our study is to provide food waste quantities for Germany by applying methods meeting the legal requirements for monitoring and reporting within Europe-wide harmonized methodology. Our results refer to 2015 and are based on the best available data, using a combination of official statistics, surveys, and literature. We found that approx. 11.9 ± 2.4 million tonnes (144 ± 28 kg/(cap·year)) of food waste were generated in Germany, while the reduction potentials varied throughout the different sectors. Even though the underlying data show uncertainties, the outcome of the study represents a starting point for the upcoming monitoring activities in Germany by uncovering data and knowledge gaps. To meet the political reduction targets, a national food waste strategy was launched in 2019 by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, which is an important step toward cooperation and exchange between actors along the entire food chain, raising awareness, and improving data quality, monitoring, and implementation of prevention measures in practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Dominik Leverenz & Felicitas Schneider & Thomas Schmidt & Gerold Hafner & Zuemmy Nevárez & Martin Kranert, 2021. "Food Waste Generation in Germany in the Scope of European Legal Requirements for Monitoring and Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:12:p:6616-:d:572315
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reynolds, Christian & Goucher, Liam & Quested, Tom & Bromley, Sarah & Gillick, Sam & Wells, Victoria K. & Evans, David & Koh, Lenny & Carlsson Kanyama, Annika & Katzeff, Cecilia & Svenfelt, Åsa & Jack, 2019. "Review: Consumption-stage food waste reduction interventions – What works and how to design better interventions," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 7-27.
    2. Schmidt, Thomas & Baumgardt, Sandra & Blumenthal, Antonia & Burdick, Bernhard & Claupein, Erika & Dirksmeyer, Walter & Hafner, Gerold & Klockgether, Kathrin & Koch, Franziska & Leverenz, Dominik & Lör, 2019. "Wege zur Reduzierung von Lebensmittelabfällen - Pathways to reduce food waste (REFOWAS) : Maßnahmen, Bewertungsrahmen und Analysewerkzeuge sowie zukunftsfähige Ansätze für einen nachhaltigen Umgang mi," Thünen Report 294006, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    3. Schmidt, Thomas G. & Baumgardt, Sandra & Blumenthal, Antonia & Burdick, Bernhard & Claupein, Erika & Dirksmeyer, Walter & Hafner, Gerold & Klockgether, Kathrin & Koch, Franziska & Leverenz, Dominik & , 2019. "Wege zur Reduzierung von Lebensmittelabfällen - Pathways to reduce food waste (REFOWAS): Maßnahmen, Bewertungsrahmen und Analysewerkzeuge sowie zukunftsfähige Ansätze für einen nachhaltigen Umgang mit," Thünen Reports 73,1, Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    4. Schmidt, Thomas G. & Baumgardt, Sandra & Blumenthal, Antonia & Burdick, Bernhard & Claupein, Erika & Dirksmeyer, Walter & Hafner, Gerold & Klockgether, Kathrin & Koch, Franziska & Leverenz, Dominik & , 2019. "Wege zur Reduzierung von Lebensmittelabfällen - Pathways to reduce food waste (REFOWAS): Maßnahmen, Bewertungsrahmen und Analysewerkzeuge sowie zukunftsfähige Ansätze für einen nachhaltigen Umgang mit," Thünen Reports 73,2, Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    5. Ronja Herzberg & Thomas G. Schmidt & Felicitas Schneider, 2020. "Characteristics and Determinants of Domestic Food Waste: A Representative Diary Study across Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Schmidt, Thomas & Baumgardt, Sandra & Blumenthal, Antonia & Burdick, Bernhard & Claupein, Erika & Dirksmeyer, Walter & Hafner, Gerold & Klockgether, Kathrin & Koch, Franziska & Leverenz, Dominik & Lör, 2019. "Wege zur Reduzierung von Lebensmittelabfällen - Pathways to reduce food waste (REFOWAS) : Maßnahmen, Bewertungsrahmen und Analysewerkzeuge sowie zukunftsfähige Ansätze für einen nachhaltigen Umgang mi," Thünen Report 294009, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
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    1. EiÄ aitÄ—, Ovidija & Baležentis, Tomas & RibaÅ¡auskienÄ—, Erika & MorkÅ«nas, Mangirdas & MelnikienÄ—, Rasa & Å treimikienÄ—, Dalia, 2022. "Food waste in the retail sector: A survey-based evidence from Central and Eastern Europe," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).

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