Economic, social and environmental world impacts of food waste on society and Zero waste as a global approach to their elimination

Abstract

The aim of the article is an effort to introduce readers to the problem of food waste in a comprehensive concept. It focuses on defining concepts, defining losses in the different phases of the food chain together with their environmental, economic and social impacts to the society. It also presents proposed or already applied solutions in connection with the effort to reduce food waste. More than 14 million tonnes. This is the amount of waste produced by Slovakia in 2018. Of this 2.1 million tonnes was municipal waste, which represents 393 kg per inhabitant per year. Unfortunately, this number is growing every year. Zero Waste concept encourages consumers to reduce consumption and recycling of acquired goods and materials, which in economic and social terms can bring regression under certain circumstances, to the detriment of environmental progress. If we do not begin to rationally analyze our own needs and at the same time intelligently manage the waste that we, as a human being, produce globally, we are at risk of significantly reducing the comfort of living. I assume and believe that this is not a vision that we would like to leave to future generations.