Globally, around 60 per cent of the waste originates from households, 28 per cent from food service providers, and 12 per cent from the retail sector.
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V RAJU
A technical note by WRI India (an independent knowledge organisation registered as India Resources Trust) has said that the contribution of food waste to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is substantial in India, and it is a significant climate issue.
Technical note titled ‘India Food Waste GHG Emission Estimation Tool’ — authored by Shwetmala Kashyap, Ritoja Basu, and Shweta Lamba — said as populations grow and consumption patterns shift, the scale and impact of food waste will intensify if the problem is left unaddressed, and it will continue to contribute to emissions.
It said that solid food waste emitted 106.62 million tonnes (mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023. In 2022-23, the country generated 62 mt of municipal solid waste (MSW). The quantum of MSW is projected to increase to 165 mt by 2030 and, to 436 mt by 2050.
Mentioning that current municipal, national, and climate policy frameworks do not adequately address this issue, the note said food waste is not only a matter of resource loss but also a climate issue. Addressing food waste emissions is not only a matter of efficiency or environmental compliance, but essential for achieving equitable and climate-resilient urban development.
Globally, around 60 per cent of the waste originates from households, 28 per cent from food service providers, and 12 per cent from the retail sector.
Across the entire life cycle of food, from production to consumption and disposal, globally, 1,052 mt of food waste was generated in 2022, accounting for nearly 19 per cent of the food available to consumers. The note said that food waste is a pressing global issue with environmental, economic, and social implications.
It said that India needs a decentralised tool that encompasses all stages of the entire food waste supply chain; can be adapted to the variety of local contexts to estimate GHG emissions, collect data, and identify potential interventions; and can be used to understand the environmental impacts of food waste.
WRI India’s the ‘India Food Waste GHG Emission Estimation Tool’ — a structured, context-specific solution to assess emissions from food waste management — captures emissions across the entire food waste supply chain: collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal, it said.
Additionally, the tool will estimate avoided GHG emissions from food waste reduction strategies, with a focus on reducing food waste at source.
By enabling city authorities, bulk waste generators, and planning bodies to estimate and visualise their food waste emissions, the tool fills a critical gap in operationalising local climate action and offers them a way to quantify climate impact and demonstrate alignment with sustainability and environmental, social, and governance goals.
The ‘India Food Waste GHG Emission Estimation Tool’ structure allows for adaptation and scaling across a variety of urban contexts. Its transparency supports stakeholder engagement, and its flexibility, methodological rigour, and user accessibility address the distinct needs of Indian cities.
The outputs of the tool can help inform state action plans on climate change, the climate roadmaps of cities, circular economy initiatives, and emission inventories. The information and framework can empower local actors to drive transformation, it said.
The tool is not a static product but a foundational step in a broader effort to improve food waste data, decision-making, and accountability. The technical note said that as more granular data and localised emission factors become available, the tool can evolve into an even more robust decision support system.
Published on July 9, 2026
