Every year, millions of tonnes of edible food are discarded at every stage of the supply chain, from farms and processors to shops, restaurants, and homes. These losses come with heavy environmental and economic consequences. For hospitality businesses, it’s also a matter of efficiency, reputation, and cost.

By understanding some key facts behind the food waste issue, businesses can take informed action. Frylite Solutions works with hospitality providers to reduce waste through responsible collection, recycling, and monthly waste reporting.

Contact us today for your used cooking oil and food waste collection needs.

Global Food Waste Facts

Food waste is a global issue with enormous scale. According to the United Nations, over 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted globally every year. That’s about one-third of all the food produced worldwide, which is enough to feed billions of people.

The waste isn’t limited to one area of the food system. While household waste accounts for a significant share—up to 61% according to the 2021 UNEP Food Waste Index—businesses, including restaurants and retailers, also play a contributing role. The rest is lost during production, storage, and transportation.

The environmental cost of this waste is stark. Food that ends up in landfill emits methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term, and a major contributor to climate change. When we waste food, we also waste the water used to grow it, the land used to farm it, the energy required to process and transport it, and the labour involved throughout.

Reducing food waste on a global level is one of the simplest and most effective ways to lower emissions, ease pressure on food systems, and make better use of natural resources.

Food Waste in Ireland & Northern Ireland

Closer to home, Ireland generates approximately 1 million tonnes of food waste each year. This waste occurs across households, retail, food service, and food production. While households are a major contributor, hospitality and food service businesses are also key players in the total figure.

For businesses, food waste in Ireland comes at a real cost. Not just in wasted food, but in unnecessary purchasing, higher disposal fees, and increased environmental impact. For example, throwing out one plate of uneaten food might not seem like a big deal, but multiplied by hundreds or thousands of customers each year, the cost quickly adds up.

To address the issue, the Irish government has introduced several initiatives. These include the Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009, which require certain businesses to segregate food waste for collection, and the National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap, which outlines steps to halve food waste by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

By understanding the figures and causes behind food waste in Ireland, businesses can make practical changes that benefit both the planet and their own operations.

Food Waste in Restaurants & Hospitality

The food service sector is one of the most visible sources of food waste. Hospitality businesses can waste anywhere between 4% and 10% of the food they purchase before it even reaches the consumer’s plate. 

Common causes include spoilage due to improper storage and over-preparing food that isn’t ordered. Misjudged demand or poorly managed inventory can also result in surplus that never gets used.

For restaurants, the financial impact is twofold. There’s the direct cost of wasted stock, but also indirect costs: staff time spent preparing unused food, space used to store it, and disposal charges to remove it.

Minimising this waste means improving internal systems, from portion sizing and menu planning to storage and stock rotation. It also means regularly reviewing how waste is managed, which is where Frylite Solutions can offer reliable support.

Environmental & Economic Consequences of Food Waste

Food waste doesn’t just represent lost meals. It also represents wasted water, energy, land, and human effort. When organic waste decomposes in landfill, it releases methane. This greenhouse gas has a significant impact on the climate and contributes to global warming more rapidly than carbon dioxide.

Globally, food waste accounts for roughly 8%-10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more than the entire aviation industry. At the same time, businesses that waste food are also losing money through both direct losses and inefficient processes.

Reducing food waste not only helps to meet environmental goals but can also lower operational costs. Using resources more efficiently often means buying only what’s needed, streamlining prep, and improving inventory controls, all of which can improve margins as well.

How Frylite Solutions Helps Reduce Food Waste

At Frylite Solutions, we work with restaurants, caterers, and other food service providers to reduce waste and operate more sustainably.

Our food waste collection service ensures waste is handled correctly, safely, and with minimal disruption. We use a fleet of carbon-efficient vehicles and offer bins designed specifically for food waste, including plate scrapings, spoiled stock, and packaged food.

What happens to the waste once it’s collected? It’s not sent to landfill. Instead, it’s recycled into renewable biogas and organic fertiliser, helping to generate energy and return nutrients to the soil, keeping waste out of landfill and supporting a circular food system.

We also provide our clients with monthly data reports, giving clear insight into the volume of food waste produced. This allows businesses to monitor their progress and make informed decisions about purchasing, portioning, and storage.

Frylite Solutions has been a trusted partner to the food service industry for decades. We know the pressures restaurants and food service businesses face, and our goal is to make sustainability as practical and accessible as possible.

If you’re ready to better manage your food waste and reduce your environmental footprint, we’re here to help.

Contact Frylite Solutions today to learn more about our food waste solutions and how we can support your sustainability goals.