The European Union should implement a programme to drastically reduce food and other waste by the end of the decade, the environment ministers of the 27-nation bloc agreed on Monday.
At a meeting in Luxembourg, the ministers identified steps to slash food waste in consumption and in retail - meaning at home or in restaurants - by 30% per capita by 2030, according to a statement.
Food waste generated during production and processing is proposed to be reduced by 10% under the waste framework directive, which must still be approved by EU legislators.
According to the European Commission, almost 59 million tons of food waste are produced in the EU every year - around 130 kilograms per capita. This corresponds to an estimated value of €132 billion ($141 billion).
Textile waste was also high up the agenda in Luxembourg. The countries in future want fashion brands and textile manufacturers to share the costs for the collection and treatment of resultant waste.
