Food waste in Germany

The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture publishes current figures. How much food waste is produced in Germany along the entire food supply chain – i.e. on the way from the farmer to the plate? This question must be answered by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture BMEL as part of regular reporting to the EU Commission. For 2020, the Federal Statistical Office reported food waste of 10.9 million tons to the EU Commission.

According to the survey, the total amount of waste in Germany in 2020 was around 11 million tons of food waste (fresh mass). In addition to leftover food and unsold food, this also includes inedible components such as nut and fruit shells, stalks and leaves, coffee grounds and bones. In addition, there are further food losses along the production and food chain.

• Agricultural production accounts for 2 percent (0.2 million tons) of the total amount of waste.
• Processing accounts for 15 percent (1.6 million tons).
• Retailers generate 7 percent (0.8 million tons) of food waste.
• Out-of-home catering accounts for 17 percent (1.9 million tons) of waste.
• At 59 percent (6.5 million tons), the majority of food waste is generated in private households. This means that every consumer throws away around 78 kilograms of food every year.

It is clear that food waste occurs along the entire food supply chain – from primary production to private households. Some of this is avoidable.

It is the responsibility of all those involved to make an active and ambitious contribution to reducing food waste. Measures to reduce food waste are being developed as part of the “National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste”, which is currently being further developed by the BMEL.