Japan has recorded its lowest level of food waste for the third consecutive year, with the amount of still edible food discarded falling to an estimated 4.61 million tonnes in fiscal year 2024, according to government data.
The latest figures show that food waste declined by 30,000 tonnes compared to the previous fiscal year, reflecting continued efforts to reduce unnecessary food disposal. The Japanese government said it will further strengthen food waste reduction initiatives by promoting donations to food banks that distribute food nearing its best before date to people facing food insecurity.
Household food waste showed the biggest improvement during the year ending March 2025. Waste generated by households fell by 90,000 tonnes to 2.24 million tonnes, indicating that consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about reducing food waste and making better use of purchased food.
Restaurant demand pushes up business food waste
In contrast food waste generated by businesses increased by 60,000 tonnes to 2.37 million tonnes. The government attributed the rise to the recovery of restaurants and dining services following the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to greater food production and higher levels of discarded food.
Japan has been compiling comparable food waste data since fiscal 2012 to monitor progress toward national reduction goals.
The government has set targets to reduce food waste from businesses to 2.19 million tonnes and household waste to 2.16 million tonnes by fiscal 2030 as part of its broader sustainability strategy.
Food waste still carries huge economic cost
Despite the progress, food waste continues to impose a significant financial burden on the country. Government estimates show that discarded food caused economic losses of approximately 3.8 trillion yen during fiscal 2024, equivalent to about 31,097 yen per person.
Globally, food waste remains a major challenge. According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index Report 2024, around 1.05 billion tonnes of food were wasted worldwide in 2022, highlighting the need for stronger efforts to improve food consumption, distribution and waste management.
Japanese officials say continued public awareness improved food donation systems and cooperation between households, businesses and food banks will be essential to achieving the country’s food waste reduction targets over the coming years.