In our daily lives, “food waste” may seem like a small and ordinary issue that occurs at every meal. However, it is actually one of the most significant environmental problems directly contributing to climate change. When food waste ends up in landfills, it decomposes and releases methane—a greenhouse gas that has a global warming potential approximately 28 times higher than carbon dioxide.
This issue can be divided into two main dimensions: “Food Loss,” which occurs during production, harvesting, processing, and transportation, and “Food Waste,” which happens at the retail, restaurant, and consumer levels. A large portion of food waste comes from edible food being discarded due to over-purchasing, leftovers, or confusion between “best before” dates and expiration dates.
The situation in Thailand is particularly concerning. On average, each person generates about 86 kilograms of food waste per year, with the trend continuing to rise. In Bangkok alone, food waste amounts to approximately 4,500 tons per day, accounting for nearly half of the city’s total municipal waste.
Food waste is not just a waste management issue—it is a resource and environmental crisis that directly affects food security and the global climate. Addressing this problem can start with simple actions, such as planning before buying, consuming food responsibly, and properly sorting waste.
Ultimately, small behavioral changes—like finishing your meals and avoiding unnecessary food disposal—can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and play a meaningful role in building a more sustainable future.
Cr. Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE)
