Quantifying the realistic reduction potential of food waste in Swedish households

Summary

This study tracked food waste in 41 Swedish households over 9843 days using a digital quantification system to assess realistic prevention potential and multi-dimensional impacts. The findings indicate that only 31.7% of total household food waste is avoidable or possibly avoidable, with a combined carbon footprint of 19 kg CO2e and economic cost of €66 per person annually. Modelling a 50% reduction in food waste suggested limited climate, economic, and nutritional gains, prompting the authors to recommend that food waste reduction efforts be combined with or weighted against complementary interventions such as dietary shifts.

Regional applicability

Whilst this study is conducted in Sweden, the findings may have relevance to United Kingdom household food waste policy and interventions. UK food waste reduction targets and consumer messaging could be informed by the Swedish evidence that realistic waste prevention potential is more constrained than often assumed, and that combined approaches addressing both waste and dietary change may be more effective than waste reduction alone.

Key measures

Proportion of avoidable (24.4%) and possibly avoidable (7.3%) food waste; carbon footprint (kg CO2e per person per year); economic cost (€ per person per year); nutrient losses; climate, economic and nutritional benefits under 50% waste reduction scenarios

Outcomes reported

The study quantified the avoidable and possibly avoidable fractions of household food waste and assessed their carbon, economic, and nutritional footprints using digital tracking over 9843 days across 41 households. Modelling scenarios of 50% waste reduction were used to estimate realistic benefits for climate, economics, and nutrition.

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