Food Waste in Dutch Households Continues to Decline, but There is Still Room for Improvement

According to the latest report published by the Dutch Voedingscentrum (Nutrition Centre) on June 9, 2026, food waste in households continues to show a clear decline. Based on the comprehensive research data, the amount of discarded solid food has dropped by nearly 30 percent over a decade. Although the trend is encouraging, experts state that there is still significant unexploited potential in households from both an economic and environmental perspective, especially regarding the 2030 climate goals.

Significant Decrease Over the Past Ten Years

The Voedingscentrum measures the food waste habits of Dutch households every three years. Based on the latest data for 2025, an average Dutch citizen throws away 25.5 kilograms of solid food annually. For comparison: in 2015, this value was still 36 kilograms per person. The nearly 30% decrease achieved over ten years is a significant result. The current amount of 25.5 kilograms roughly equals the weight of one full meal per week.

Silvio Erkens, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), highlighted regarding the report: “Food waste is a shame, both for the people themselves and for their wallets. It is good to see that we are wasting less and less at home, because every bite counts.”

What is Measured and What is Thrown Away the Most?

The research methodology strictly focuses on the analysis of residual and organic (GFT) waste. The statistics exclusively include solid food intended for human consumption but not eaten (liquids were not examined). It is important to emphasize that unavoidable waste, such as vegetable and fruit peels, eggshells, or cheese rinds, does not qualify as waste, so these are not included in the 25.5-kilogram figure.

The list of the most frequently discarded foods is led by five major product groups: bread, vegetables, fruits, potatoes, and dairy products. Together, these categories account for more than half of the weight of food wasted in Dutch households. The “other” category includes products that are thrown away relatively less often, such as eggs and fish.

Financial Loss and Consumer Self-Deception

Although the data is improving, the research shed light on an interesting psychological factor: 81% of the Dutch population believes that their own household wastes (much) less than average. This statistical impossibility indicates that people significantly underestimate their own wasteful behavior.

From an economic perspective, the loss is still substantial. In 2025, 7% of the total food purchased ended up in the trash. Although this proportion does not seem outstanding at first, converted into money, it means that an average citizen throws away about 100 euros a year. Saving this amount would provide a direct financial advantage for more conscious consumers.

The 2030 UN Goal: Halving Waste

Reducing food waste is not only an economic but also a critical environmental interest. The production, processing, transportation, and cooling of wasted food entail a significant ecological footprint. Lilou van Lieshout, sustainability expert at the Voedingscentrum, emphasized: if we prevent waste, we need to produce less food per person, which directly reduces the environmental impact.

The Netherlands is committed to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, under which food waste must be halved by 2030 compared to the 2015 level. According to the Voedingscentrum, the country is on the right track, but further decisive steps will be needed in the coming years to achieve the goal.

Everyday Challenges and Expert Advice

The majority of the population is open to change, but busy weekdays, unexpected events, and the changing dietary preferences of children make avoiding waste completely difficult. As a mother of two, Lilou van Lieshout also confirmed: food landing on the floor or sudden “I don’t like this anymore” phases make it hard to entirely prevent waste. The expert suggests serving small portions, so untouched food left in the pan can be more easily used for a new meal. In addition, regularly checking supplies, freezing bread, and accurately interpreting expiration dates are also crucial. On this latter topic, a new campaign was launched in June in collaboration with the Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling (Together Against Food Waste) foundation.

Methodological Background

The latest analyses of the research, which has been conducted every three years since 2010, have been optimized and standardized. Consequently, the current figures and trends may differ slightly from the data shared before 2023. However, thanks to the modification, all results in the 2025 report from 2013 to 2025 are now fully comparable. The survey was conducted by CREM Waste Management and Flycatcher Internet Research with the guidance of the Voedingscentrum and a committee comprising the LVVN, Milieu Centraal, Rijkswaterstaat, and Wageningen University & Research.

References:

• Original official source (Dutch Nutrition Centre): https://www.voedingscentrum.nl/nl/nieuws/-voedselverspilling-bij-nederlanders-thuis-verder-gedaald-maar-we-kunnen-nog-veel-winst-behalen-.aspx