Global Food Waste Management Market Grows at a Staggering CAGR of 5.7%

Introduction

The food waste management market encompasses efforts to minimize, recycle, and reuse food waste from households, restaurants, food processing facilities, and agriculture. It covers waste collection, composting, anaerobic digestion, and converting waste into energy: regulations, sustainability goals, and growing awareness around food security fuel market expansion. Key participants include waste service providers, food manufacturers, and environmental groups. Effective waste management is vital for sustainability and climate action because food waste contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions globally.

The global food waste management market is expanding quickly due to the rising global population, higher food production, and growing consumption. Changing consumer preferences also drive this growth, with increasing attention paid to reducing food waste. The COVID-19 crisis intensified these concerns in South Africa, UAE, and Saudi Arabia by disrupting supply chains. Lockdowns and transport barriers caused an accumulation of perishable waste, stressing the need for efficient food waste solutions to support food security and sustainability.

Market Dynamics

Government initiatives and regulations drive market growth

Governments worldwide are taking bold steps to reduce food waste through legislation, incentives, and strategic policies. These initiatives aim to curb food loss across supply chains and promote sustainability by imposing stricter regulations on waste disposal and encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices.

• The European Union, for instance, has committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030 as part of its Green Deal. Member states have introduced mandatory food waste tracking for businesses and incentives for surplus food donations. Similarly, in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have launched the "Food Recovery Challenge," encouraging businesses to implement waste reduction strategies.

These regulations drive businesses to adopt innovative solutions, significantly shaping the food waste management industry.

Increasing focus on food waste reduction in retail and food service industries

Retailers, food service providers, and hospitality industries are prioritizing food waste reduction due to financial, environmental, and reputational factors. Companies are implementing advanced inventory management systems, demand forecasting tools, and stock rotation strategies to minimize spoilage and enhance efficiency. Businesses also partner with food banks, redistribution networks, and surplus food donation programs to divert excess food from landfills.

• For example, global retail giant Walmart has introduced AI-powered waste tracking to optimize food stocking and reduce waste. At the same time, Tesco and Carrefour have pledged to cut food waste in half by 2030 through enhanced redistribution efforts.

By integrating waste reduction initiatives, businesses can enhance brand reputation, improve operational efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable global food system.

Regional Insights

North America, particularly the United States, significantly contributes to the global food waste management market, driven by advanced infrastructure and strong sustainability initiatives. Regulatory measures like the EPA's "Food Recovery Challenge" and the USDA’s initiatives to minimize food waste have propelled industry growth. Many retail chains and food service establishments are implementing strategies to divert food waste from landfills to recycling and composting programs. Moreover, technological advancements in organic waste processing and increased investments in anaerobic digestion and bioconversion techniques will support the steady growth of the North American food waste management market through 2025.

Key Highlights

• The global food waste management market size was valued at USD 43.65 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow from USD 14 billion in 2025 to reach USD 71.90 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period (2025-2033).
• By waste type, the market is bifurcated into cereals, dairy & dairy products, fruits & vegetables, meat & poultry, fish & seafood, oilseeds & pulses, roots & tubers, and others. The fruit and vegetable segment holds the largest market share.
• By source, the market is bifurcated into Residential and Industrial. The residential source segment holds the largest market share.
• By service types, the market is bifurcated into collection, transportation, and disposal/recycling (landfill, incineration, composting, and others). The collection segment holds the largest market share.
• Based on region, the global market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America dominates the global market.

Competitive Players

1. Veolia
2. Suez
3. Waste Management, Inc.
4. Republic Services, Inc.
5. Covanta Ltd.
6. Stericycle, Inc.
7. Remondis SE & Co., KG
8. Clean Harbors, Inc.
9. Biffa
10. Rumpke
11. Advanced Disposal Services, Inc.
12. Cleanaway
13. FCC Recycling (UK) Limited
14. DS Smith 

Recent Developments

• In March 2024, Semmaris, Rungis International Market's management company, entrusted SUEZ, a leader in environmental services, with the collection and sorting of waste at the world's largest fresh produce market. Since January 2024, SUEZ has implemented awareness-raising solutions and improved on-site waste sorting and recovery. The idea here is to double the portion of waste sorted by 2025 for the Rungis International Market. This is fully aligned with its CSR strategy of reducing the size of its environmental footprint. This is a seven-year contract worth €31 million.

Segmentation

1. By Waste Type
   1. Cereals
   2. Dairy & Dairy Products
   3. Fruits & Vegetables
   4. Meat & Poultry
   5. Fish & Seafood
   6. Oilseeds & Pulses
   7. Roots & Tubers
   8. Others
2. By Source
   1. Residential
   2. Industrial
3. By Service Types
   1. Collection
   2. Transportation
   3. Disposal/Recycling
   4. Landfill
   5. Incineration
   6. Composting
   7. Others
4. By Region
   1. North America
   2. Europe
   3. Asia-Pacific
   4. Latin America
   5. The Middle East and Africa