Congress Backs September 29, 2025, Awareness Day to Fight the $1 Trillion Global Food Waste Problem

This resolution is Congress’s official nod to a massive, trillion-dollar problem: food waste. It formally expresses support for recognizing September 29, 2025, as the "International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste." While resolutions like this are non-binding—meaning they don't change any laws or allocate new money—they serve as a loud, public statement that this issue is serious, connecting global hunger, rising costs, and climate change.

The Problem: We’re Wasting 40% of Everything We Grow

Think about your grocery budget. Now imagine throwing 40% of those groceries straight into the trash. That’s essentially what’s happening globally, according to the resolution’s findings. Every year, over $1,000,000,000,000 worth of food is lost or wasted. This isn't just an abstract number; it's a huge drag on the global economy and a major contributor to rising food prices. The resolution highlights that while 783 million people worldwide are hungry, we are simultaneously wasting nearly 40% of the food produced.

Your Fridge vs. The Planet: Where the Waste Happens

When we talk about food waste, most of us picture a grocery store tossing bruised apples. But the resolution points out the real culprit: us. Of the 1.05 billion tons of food wasted in 2022, 60% came from households. Restaurants (food service) accounted for 28%, and retail stores made up the remaining 12%. This means the biggest opportunity for change—and for saving money—is right in our own kitchens. The resolution also acknowledges the importance of adopting methods that prevent food loss in the first place, rather than just dealing with the waste after the fact.

This Isn't Just About Hunger; It's a Climate Fight

For those of us tracking climate impact, this resolution spells out the grim reality: food waste accounts for 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. When food ends up in a landfill, it rots and releases methane, a gas that is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year span. Cutting down on wasted food is one of the fastest, most effective ways we can reduce harmful emissions right now. By supporting this awareness day, Congress is reinforcing the existing U.S. goal to cut food loss and waste in half by 2030, a target set in the President's National Strategy.

The Takeaway: Symbolic Support for a Real-World Fix

While this resolution doesn't mandate you buy a smaller fridge or start composting, it’s a strong symbolic move. It puts the weight of the U.S. House of Representatives behind a global effort to raise awareness about a problem that affects our wallets, the environment, and global stability. The practical implication is that this awareness push could lead to more public education and better systems down the road, potentially helping the U.S. hit that 2030 goal, which would benefit consumers through lower costs and the planet through cleaner air.