The core of food waste definitions: identifying common ground for clearer food waste prevention
WASTEWISE researchers have published the project’s first scientific paper in Cleaner Waste Systems, exploring the common ground among existing food waste definitions and identifying where greater clarity is needed to support effective prevention.
A common understanding of what constitutes food waste is essential for measuring the problem, comparing data and designing effective prevention strategies. However, multiple definitions are currently in use, making food waste appear more fragmented than it actually is.
Rather than proposing yet another definition, the study “The core of food waste definitions” investigates where existing definitions and expert perspectives agree. The researchers developed a framework based on four key dimensions: the scope of the food supply chain, final destination, edibility and solidity.
A questionnaire involving experts in the field revealed a shared core of consensus, broadly aligned with most existing food waste definitions. At the same time, the study identified “grey zones” where definitions and expert opinions diverge, particularly concerning inedible food parts and liquids.
The findings highlight the need for further harmonisation of food waste measurement and reporting. The authors identify the EU reporting standard as a suitable starting point, while emphasising the need to balance legal precision, statistical comparability and practical usefulness for food business operators.
As the first scientific publication resulting from WASTEWISE, the paper provides an important foundation for the project’s work to improve the measurement, understanding and prevention of food waste and its environmental impacts.
