How to reduce food waste at home – figures and useful habits
Short answer
To waste less food at home: plan your meals and buy only what you need, use first the products that expire first, tell “use by” (safety) apart from “best before” (quality) and reuse leftovers in one meal of the week.
According to Eurostat, in 2024 the European Union generated about 129 kilograms of food waste per person. Households produce 53% of it, about 69 kilograms per person per year. That is why the EU, with Directive (EU) 2025/1892, requires Member States to reduce per-capita waste in retail, food services and households by 30% by 2030, compared with the 2021–2023 average.
Buy what you will cook
Most household waste starts before cooking: you buy too much, or without knowing when you will use it. A weekly menu and a shopping list written from the menu are the simplest way to buy the right quantities.
Use first what expires first
When you put the shopping away, place the products that expire first at the front of the fridge and the pantry, and use them in the first days of the week. Keep an eye above all on fresh food: leafy vegetables, dairy, meat and fish.
Read the dates carefully
Labels carry two different dates. “Use by” is about safety: after that date the product should not be eaten. “Best before” is about quality: if stored well, the product can still be good after that date. The European Commission points out that understanding this difference helps you avoid throwing away food that is still good.
Give leftovers a second life
Rice, cooked vegetables and stale bread easily become another dish: omelettes, patties, soups. Keep one evening a week for leftovers, instead of cooking from scratch.
Note what you throw away
For a few weeks, write down what ends up in the bin and why: expired, too much, not liked. Seeing where the waste happens is the fastest way to change habits.
How to do it with Sunny Family
With Premium, the Sunny Family pantry updates after shopping, reads receipts and reminds you what to use before it expires; you can mark whether a product was used or thrown away. Every month there is also an anti-waste challenge with other families.
Frequently asked questions
Should a product past its “best before” date be thrown away?
Not necessarily. That date shows until when the product keeps its quality, if stored correctly; check how it looks and smells. The “use by” date, on the other hand, concerns safety and must be respected.
Which habit makes the difference?
Planning meals before going shopping: you buy based on what you will actually cook, instead of guessing.
Sources
- Eurostat, “Food waste in the EU: 129 kg per person in 2024” (29 September 2026)
- European Commission, “Food waste reduction targets”
- European Commission, “Date marking and food waste prevention”
The guides give general information and do not replace advice from a doctor or a nutritionist.