Sectoral Analysis of Food Waste in EU Countries: Implications for Pro-Environmental Orientation and Policy

Food waste remains a critical sustainability challenge for the European Union (EU), with significant negative impacts on environmental resources, economic efficiency, and social equity. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of food waste across EU member states during the 2020–2023 period, examining waste generation across five key sectors: households, food service (restaurants and catering), retail, food manufacturing, and primary agriculture. The study uses Eurostat statistical data, standardising measurements to kilograms per capita and absolute tonnage to enable cross-country comparisons. Particular attention is devoted to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected the service and retail sectors. Beyond descriptive analysis, the research investigates potential relationships between major economic indicators (Gross Domestic Product GDP, median income, and material deprivation) and food waste rates, employing Kruskal–Wallis statistical tests to examine sectoral and cross-national patterns. Contrary to conventional assumptions, analyses reveal no statistically significant direct correlation between economic prosperity and waste generation, suggesting that institutional design, infrastructure availability, consumer awareness, and education exert greater determinative influence than aggregate wealth. Results demonstrate that households are the largest source of food waste across the EU, accounting for approximately 50% of food waste. At the same time, sectoral variations reflect country-specific structural and regulatory factors rather than levels of economic development. The research concludes with actionable policy recommendations targeting three intervention levels: individual behaviour change (consumer education, digital tools, and purchase planning), community infrastructure (food redistribution networks and collective composting), and institutional reform (regulatory harmonisation, circular economy incentives, and extended producer responsibility). These recommendations align with EU strategic priorities, including the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, and 2030 Circular Economy Action Plan, with the specific objective of halving food waste by 2030 to enhance both environmental sustainability and food security.