TOKYO, June 30 -- Ministry of the Environment issued the following news:
MOE Japan Discloses the Estimated Amount of Japan's Food Loss and Waste Generated in FY2024
1. The estimated total amount of Food Loss and Waste (FLW), excluding inedible parts, generated in FY2024 was approximately 4.61 million tons (2.24 million tons from households and 2.37 million tons from businesses).
2. The reduction of FLW is a key challenge in transitioning to a circular economy and achieving net-zero emissions. The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Japan will cooperate with relevant government offices, local governments, and business operators to further promote FLW reduction efforts.
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 FY2024 was approximately 4.61 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 the 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/046549/ (in Japanese)
Table: Estimated Amount of FLW (excluding inedible parts)
(Unit: million tons)
Amount of FLW Generated
Total
From businesses
From households
FY2024
4.61
2.37
2.24
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)
(1) Model projects
(i) 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 support them in achieving the household food loss and waste reduction target earlier.
In the "FY2025 Supplementary Budget Model Project for Promoting Reduction of Household Food Loss and Waste by Changing Consumer Behavior," four projects were selected: three in the "Leading Case Creation Section" and one in the "Leading Case Promotion and Expansion Section."
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_04785.html
(Press Release on May 29, 2026, in Japanese)
(ii) mottECO Introduction Support Project
The project supports local governments, restaurants and other food service providers which intend to introduce the mottECO initiative, a practice of bringing home leftovers from restaurants.
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_04726.html
(Press Release on May 21, 2026, 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) Guidelines for Promoting Creation of Zero Food Loss and Waste Areas
With the aim of creating "Zero Food Loss and Waste Areas," where zero food loss and waste (zero incineration and landfilling) is achieved by encouraging each stakeholder to reduce food loss and recycling cyclical food resources that still remain after reduction, MOE Japan has published guidelines for relevant local stakeholders (private business operators and others) and local governments, outlining basic steps for planning and key points for implementing effective initiatives.
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_03951.html
(Press Release on April 6, 2026, in Japanese)
(3) Collection of Initiatives on FLW Reduction Efforts for Local Governments
MOE Japan has selected 29 initiatives by 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.
https://www.env.go.jp/recycle/foodloss/pdf/j_fl_m_r7.pdf
(Updated in October 2025, in Japanese)
(4) 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 support local governments in formulating FLW reduction promotion plan. Based on interviews with local governments that have already formulated and implemented such plans, MOE Japan has revised the manual by adding reference cases that outline characteristics of the plans and best practices for their formulation and implementation.
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_03954.html
(Press Release on April 6, 2026, in Japanese)
(5) Guidelines 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. MOE Japan has revised the guidelines by adding information of "benefits from a business perspective" and "cases of collaboration between businesses and local governments," as well as cases of effective measures, with the aim of encouraging business participation in addition to local government officials.
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_03943.html
(published on April 6, 2026, in Japanese)
(6) Guidelines for Implementing Food Drive
The guidelines was developed to serve as a reference for local governments and community organizations when implementing food drives. Based on the "Guidelines for Food Donations - Towards Improving the Public Trust in Food Donations (First Edition)" (published in December 2024), MOE Japan has updated the content, by reviewing the content and adding case studies, and published the revised guidelines.
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_03950.html
(Press Release on April 6, 2026, in Japanese)
(7) Guidelines for Introducing mottECO Initiative
In 2020, MOE Japan held the "New Doggy Bag Idea Contest" and selected "mottECO" as the new nickname for bringing home leftover food from restaurants.
MOE Japan has published the "Guidelines for Introducing mottECO Initiative," which outlines the necessary preliminary considerations and specific procedures for foodservice operators and others before they introduce services allowing customers to bring home leftover food.
https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_03945.html
(Press Release on April 6, 2026, in Japanese)
Promotional and educational materials are available on the Food Loss Portal or in the press release materials at the URL below.
https://www.env.go.jp/recycle/food/motteco.html (in Japanese)
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
