Cutting food waste can deliver the province of Utrecht an emission reduction of 120 kton CO₂-eq per year by 2030. Worldwide, 30 to 40% of all food produced is wasted.
What it is
This solution minimises food loss and waste at every stage: production, distribution, retail and consumption. When food is thrown away, all the energy, resources and emissions used to make and transport it are lost too — the further along the chain, the greater that loss. Measures include better storage and transport, smarter distribution, awareness and changes in consumer behaviour.
Potential in Utrecht
Consumer food waste in the Netherlands causes 2.2 Mton of emissions a year, equal to 131 kg CO₂ per person. For the province of Utrecht (1,361,093 inhabitants) this amounts to 78,303 tonnes CO₂-eq in 2018. The scenarios follow the UN ambition: the plausible scenario assumes 40% less waste by 2030 compared with 2018, yielding 68 kton reduction; the ambitious scenario assumes 70% less, reaching 120 kton.
Co-benefits
Less waste saves not only emissions but also money, energy and raw materials throughout the chain. It fits with shorter supply chains and thereby strengthens the relationship between citizens and farmers.
Provincial policy
In 2019 the province of Utrecht drew up a Food Agenda, with short supply chains and a sustainable, healthy food supply as central aims. Reducing waste fits that ambition and contributes to a future-proof food sector, although no explicit CO₂-eq reduction targets have yet been included.
In practice
Orbisk uses AI to analyse how much food is left over in professional kitchens, so purchasing and menus can be optimised. InStock makes dishes from surpluses from growers and producers, Buurtbuik cooks free meals from rescued food with volunteers, Too Good to Go sells leftover meals at a discount, and Wasteless reduces waste through dynamic pricing for products with a short shelf life.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does cutting food waste save in Utrecht?
According to this assessment, up to 120 kton CO₂-eq per year by 2030 (ambitious scenario), or 68 kton in the plausible scenario.
How much food does an average Dutch person waste?
About 34.3 kg per person per year, accounting for roughly 131 kg of CO₂ per person.
Where in the chain is the greatest gain?
At every stage, but the further food travels along the chain before being discarded, the more resources and emissions are lost.
Source: Preliminary Climate Solutions Assessment for the province of Utrecht (Drawdown Europe & New Economy, 2021), based on the Project Drawdown methodology. Part of the sector-based climate action plan for the province of Utrecht.