MOE Japan Discloses the Estimated Amount of Japan's Food Loss and Waste Generated in FY2023

In order to promote food recycling etc. (including reduction of the amount of food waste), Japan has been promoting efforts by the national government, local governments, and business operators, based on the Law for Promotion of Recycling and Related Activities for Treatment of Cyclical Food Resources (Act No. 116 of 2000, hereinafter “Food Waste Recycling Act”). In particular, to tackle the issue of food being thrown away despite being edible, Japan has been promoting actions to reduce such Food Loss and Waste 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 reports from business operators under the Food Waste Recycling Act. The amount of FLW originating from households was calculated through a survey conducted by local governments. The estimated amount of FLW in FY2023 was approximately 4.64 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). The target is to halve per capita global FLW by 2030. In Japan, the Basic Policy on Promotion of Food Loss and Waste Reduction (Cabinet Decision on March 25, 2025), based on Act on Promotion of Food Loss and Waste Reduction sets up the target to halve FLW from households (which was achieved earlier before 2030) and to reduce 60% of FLW from businesses from the FY2000 level by FY2030, and also stipulates that the national government is to promote comprehensive efforts to achieve the FLW reduction target. 

Furthermore, the Consumer Affairs Agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment, has published estimates of "economic losses and greenhouse gas emissions due to FLW". For detailed information, please refer to the Consumer Affairs Agency's press release. 
https://www.caa.go.jp/notice/entry/042653/ (in Japanese)

	Amount of FLW Generated
	Total	From businesses	From households
FY2023	4.64	2.31	2.33
FY2022	4.72	2.36	2.36
FY2021	5.23	2.79	2.44
FY2020	5.22	2.75	2.47
FY2019	5.70	3.09	2.61
FY2018	6.00	3.24	2.76
FY2017	6.12	3.28	2.84
FY2016	6.43	3.52	2.91
FY2015	6.46	3.57	2.89
FY2014	6.21	3.39	2.82
FY2013	6.32	3.30	3.02
FY2012	6.43	3.31	3.12

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

MOE Japan has created and has been updating a portal site named the “FLW Portal” (in Japanese) that provides aggregated information on FLW so that every entity can obtain accurate and easy-to-understand information. This dedicated webpage is structured into three sections, 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: 
https://www.env.go.jp/recycle/foodloss/index.html (in Japanese)  

 In addition, FLW reduction has been designated as one of the main actions in Decokatsu (National Movement for New and Prosperous Lifestyles toward Decarbonization). Through Decokatsu, MOE Japan is encouraging behavioral changes and lifestyle shifts among citizens and consumers, including FLW reduction. For more details, please visit the URL below: 
https://ondankataisaku.env.go.jp/decokatsu/action/foodloss/ (in Japanese) 

Major initiatives:
(1) Model projects
(i) Model Project for Promoting Creation of Zero Food Loss and Waste Areas 
The project supports pioneering cases that aim to create Zero FLW Areas by reducing and recycling FLW and widely disseminating their achievements, in order to expand and spread these initiatives to other regions and organizations.
In the "FY2024 Supplementary Budget Model Project for Promoting Creation of Zero Food Loss and Waste Areas", a total of seven projects were selected: five "Model Project for Promoting Creation of Zero Food Loss and Waste Areas” and two "Model Projects for Introducing Measures to Prevent Disposal of Unsold Food".
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_04959.html
(published on May 30, 2025, in Japanese)

(ii) Model Project for Introducing Measures to Reduce Food Loss and Waste due to Food Consumption Behavior, etc. 
The project supports initiatives for preventing disposal of unsold food in which consumers participate and are involved, including the mottECO initiative, which is the practice of bringing home leftovers from restaurants, and the food sharing at restaurants and stores, and widely disseminating their achievements, in order to expand and spread these initiatives to other regions and organizations.

In the "FY2025 Model Project for Introducing Measures to Reduce Food Loss and Waste due to Food Consumption Behavior, etc.", a total of five projects were selected: two "mottECO Introduction Model Projects" and three "Model Projects for Introducing Measures to Prevent Disposal of Unsold Food". 
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_05021.html 
(published on June 6, 2025, in Japanese) 

(iii) Model Project for Promoting Reduction of Household Food Loss and Waste by Changing Consumer Behavior 
The project supports promoting efforts by local governments and business operators, which will be effective for household Food Loss and Waste reduction, and widely disseminating their achievements, in order to expand and spread these initiatives to other regions and organizations, and achieve the household Food Loss and Waste reduction target earlier. 
In the "FY2024 Supplementary Budget Model Project for Promoting Reduction of Household Food Loss and Waste by Changing Consumer Behavior", three projects were selected in the first round. Going forward, applications for the second round will be selected. 
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_04961.html
(published on May 30, 2025, in Japanese) 

The brief outline of model projects implemented in past years is available on the FLW Portal. 
https://www.env.go.jp/recycle/foodloss/index.html (in Japanese) 

(2) Collection of Initiatives on FLW Reduction Efforts for Local Governments
MOE Japan has selected 27 initiatives by the local governments around Japan to reduce FLW, compiled the steps and key points to implement them, and published them in order to further promote FLW reduction in local governments. 
The manual is available on the FLW Portal. 

(3) Manual for Formulating FLW Reduction Promotion Plan for Local Governments
MOE Japan has published the “Manual for Formulating FLW Reduction Promotion Plan for Local Governments” to help local governments formulate FLW reduction promotion plan based on basic policy concerning FLW reduction. 
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_04710.html
(published on April 8, 2025, in Japanese) 

(4) Guideline for Local Governments and Business Operators for Effective FLW Reduction by Consumers’ Behavioral Change
Focused on “expected FLW reduction by consumers’ behavioral change”, MOE Japan has published the “Guidelines for Local Governments and Business Operators for Effective FLW Reduction by Consumers’ Behavioral Change” to help increase effects of measures promoted by local governments and business operators. 
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_04709.html 
(published on April 8, 2025, in Japanese)  

(5) mottECO initiative
MOE published promotion materials, such as images for posters and stickers, for the mottECO initiative, which is the practice of bringing home leftovers from restaurants within the scope of the consumer's self-responsibility. The promotion materials of "mottECO" are available on the FLW Portal and the following URL: 
https://www.env.go.jp/press/109486.html 
(published on April 14, 2021, in Japanese) 

(6) Guidelines for Promotion of the Take-Home Bringing Home of Leftover Food 
The “Guidelines for Promotion the Take-Home Leftover Food- Towards Achieving the SGDs Goals” established by the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has been published on each website. The guidelines shows business operators should note from the perspective of law and food hygiene matters and consumers should take the action for the bringing home leftovers without worry. For details, please refer to the following URL: 
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/consumer_policy/information/food_loss/promote/#gl002 (in Japanese) 

(7) Guidelines for Food Donations 
The “Guidelines for Food Donations - Towards Improving the public trust in Food Donations” established by the Public-Private Council for Food Donation in order to improve the trust in food donations has been also published on CAA website. The guidelines was referred to the Food Drive Implementation manual formulated by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). For details, please refer to the following URL. 
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/consumer_policy/information/food_loss/promote/#gl002 (in Japanese)