Lesson 2: Chapter 1: Food Waste in Ireland
Waste data is compiled every 4 years by the EPA in Ireland. While there is a lack of knowledge about primary production food waste in Ireland, much more is known about the amount of food waste generated by Irish households each year. Since 2022, under the European Waste Framework Directive (WFD), Member States are required to report annual food waste data for each stage of the supply chain. This will mean more interest in food waste, and its reporting, in the coming years. Waste data is compiled every 4 years by the EPA in Ireland and this can be used to see how much food waste there is from each sector.
This waste data includes losses (a loss in potential food produced prior to the harvest of crops or animal products, including meat) and wastes (the loss of harvested food before it can pass into the next stage of the supply chain).
Primary production waste data was published for the first time in 2021 with over 75,000 tonnes due to waste and 115,000 tonnes attributed to losses. Below is a video describing research into Food Loss and Waste from Farming, Fishing and Aquaculture in Ireland.
Farming and Fishing: 190,000 TONNES/YEAR
Food waste in Ireland has been estimated at 1.1 million tonnes per year, but this excluded farming, fishing and aquaculture (i.e., primary production), as there were no data on these sectors. This research has quantified and understood food waste in primary production and is a starting point in identifying areas that need addressing. The project has compiled various options for solutions available to tackle the specific food waste issues occurring in Ireland.
Relevant factors at the farm level: Inefficient harvesting, strict retail specifications,
off-spec produce, over-production, mismatch between supply and demand, it is hard to get data on this.
Process & manufacturing: 450,000 TONNES/YEAR
Relevant factors at the processing stage: processing residuals, packaging errors, single focus
Commerce: 305,000 TONNES/YEAR
Relevant factors in retail and wholesale:
overstocking, packaging (to prolong shelf life), damage to packaging, bulk and over-production at serve-over (deli) counters
Relevant factors in food service:
over preparation, serving too much, poor stock control
Commerce includes retail, wholesale and food service.
Domestic: 250,000 TONNES/YEAR
Relevant factors regarding household food waste: food prices, buying too much, cooking too much, improper storage, over serving, not reusing good food, disposing of wasted food as rubbish
Further Detail on Food Waste in the Commercial Sector
Within commerce, research into commercial food waste in Ireland showed the sectors generating the most volumes of waste. The top 4 account for an estimated 80% of the total.
Food service here includes both quick service and full service restaurants and offices includes sub-contracted canteens as well as food waste from the office areas and the small kitchenettes that are common (EPA, 2019).