September 29 is the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW), established by the United Nations to shine a spotlight on one of the biggest global challenges: food that’s lost or wasted instead of reaching people who need it.
Globally, 13% of food is lost before reaching stores and 19% is wasted by households, restaurants, and retailers, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This waste drives 8 – 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, even as 1 in 11 people go hungry and 2.3 billion faced food insecurity in 2023.
Reducing food waste is not just about preventing leftovers from going bad. It’s about:
- Feeding neighbors: Families across the globe—and here at home—are facing food insecurity.
- Protecting the planet: Food waste is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Strengthening communities: Volunteer-driven efforts don’t just save food—they build networks of care and action.
Closer to home, 1 in 7 neighbors in West Michigan is at risk of hunger, according to Feeding America West Michigan. But three local food clubs are proving that community-led solutions can help change the story.
The members of the Food Club Network—Community Food Club (Kent County), Lakeshore Food Club (Mason County), and Community Action House (Ottawa and Allegan Counties)—show how local action reduces food waste while expanding access to healthy food. Together, their membership-based grocery stores serve 18,500 members each month, blending millions of pounds of rescued and donated food with traditional purchases to lower costs and cut waste. Thousands of volunteers, donors, and partner agencies help power this work, turning surplus into nourishment.
The UN’s target of halving global food waste by 2030 may seem ambitious, but West Michigan shows what’s possible when communities come together. On International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (and every day!), we celebrate local progress while keeping sight of the larger mission: ensuring everyone has reliable access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life.
