Press Release

November 30, 2021
  • Waste & Recycling

MOEJ discloses the estimated amount of Japan's food loss and waste (excluding inedible parts) generated in FY2019

< Joint Release with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries >

The Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) announced the estimated amount of Japan's food loss and waste (FLW), excluding inedible parts, generated in FY2019. The estimated total amount of FLW generated in FY2019 was approximately 5.70 million tons. The reduction of FLW is a key challenge to build a circular economy. MOEJ, the Consumer Affairs Agency, and MAFF will cooperate with relevant government offices, local governments, and business operators to further promote FLW reduction efforts.

1. Estimated Amount of Japan's FLW in FY2019

In order to reduce the amount of FLW (including items treated as valuables) and promote recycling, Japan has been promoting efforts by the national government, local governments, and business operators, based on the Food Recycling Act. In particular, Japan has been promoting actions to reduce FLW as a national movement based on the Act on Promotion of Food Loss and Waste Reduction (Act No. 19 of 2019).

The amount of FLW generated by businesses was estimated based on the reports from business operators under the Food Recycling Act. The amount of FLW originating from households was calculated through a survey conducted by local governments. The estimated amount of FLW thrown away despite being edible in FY2019 was approximately 5.70 million tons (see the table below).

The reduction of FLW is addressed in one of the targets set forth by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations on September 25, 2015, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The target is to halve per capita global FLW by 2030.

In Japan, the Fourth Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society (Cabinet decision on June 19, 2018) and the basic policy of the Food Recycling Act (announced on July 12, 2019) set up the target to halve FLW from households and businesses from the FY2000 level by FY2030. Moreover, the "Basic Policy on Promotion of Food Loss and Waste Reduction," based on the Act on Promotion of Food Loss and Waste Reduction (Cabinet decision on March 31, 2019) also stipulates that the national government is to promote comprehensive efforts to achieve FLW reduction target.

Table: Estimated Amount of FLW (excluding inedible parts)

Amount of FLW Generated

Total

From businesses

From households

FY2019

5.70 million tons

3.09 million tons

2.61 million tons

FY2018

6.00 million tons

3.24 million tons

2.76 million tons

FY2017

6.12 million tons

3.28 million tons

2.84 million tons

FY2016

6.43 million tons

3.52 million tons

2.91 million tons

FY2015

6.46 million tons

3.57 million tons

2.89 million tons

FY2014

6.21 million tons

3.39 million tons

2.82 million tons

FY2013

6.32 million tons

3.30 million tons

3.02 million tons

FY2012

6.42 million tons

3.31 million tons

3.12 million tons

* The total and the sum of breakdowns may not coincide due to rounding.

2. MOEJ's Initiatives

MOEJ has created and has been updating a portal site that provides aggregated information on FLW so that individual entities can obtain accurate and easy-to-understand information. This dedicated webpage is divided into three, respectively targeting consumers, local governments, and business operators, and is designed to enable individual viewers to obtain necessary information easily.

Please access the webpage from the following URL.

URL: https://www.env.go.jp/recycle/foodloss/index.html (available in Japanese)

Trend in the Amounts of Japan's Food Loss and Waste (in Japanese)

URL: https://www.env.go.jp/press/files/jp/117140.pdf

For Japanese

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