Food waste in UK homes has climbed to 21 per cent in 2024
WRAP’s Food Management Survey suggests that potatoes, bread, and broccoli are most likely to be wasted, with more loose produce emerging as a key solution.
Self-reported levels of food waste are on the rise, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)’s Food Management Survey, which found the amount increased from 20.2 per cent in 2023 to 21 per cent in June 2024.
Results from a total of 4,740 interviews suggested that fresh produce, such as potatoes, broccoli, carrots, bananas, apples, and onions, is more likely to be wasted than other foods, with Senior Campaign Manager of Love Food Hate Waste, Jackie Baily, labelling it “the real kitchen victim when it comes to food waste.”
The survey found potatoes topped the list with an average waste level of 22.6 per cent, followed by bread at 21.3 per cent and broccoli at 21 per cent. Other commonly wasted items included carrots (19.9 per cent), bananas (20.1 per cent), and apples (19.3 per cent).
The table below indicates what percentage of each type of food surveyed was wasted by households.
| Product | No food waste reported (per cent) | Respondents that reported 1-9 per cent of food was wasted (per cent) | Respondents that reported 10-19 per cent of food was wasted (per cent) | Respondents that reported 20-29 per cent of food was wasted (per cent) | Respondents that reported 30 per cent or higher of food was wasted (per cent) | Average of food waste levels (per cent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | 34 | 18 | 16 | 7 | 24 | 22.6 |
| Bread | 39 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 24 | 21.3 |
| Broccoli | 41 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 23 | 21.0 |
| Carrots | 42 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 22 | 19.9 |
| Bananas | 51 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 20.1 |
| Apples | 52 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 21 | 19.3 |
| Onions | 52 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 19 | 18.2 |
| Fresh chicken | 56 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 19.7 |
| Milk | 58 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 19.2 |
| Pork | 65 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 16.1 |
| Soft drinks | 71 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 17.9 |
Table 1: Levels of self-reported food waste by product
Packaging linked to fresh produce waste
One key reason for the high levels of fresh produce waste is the over-packaging of these items. According to the report, only 19 per cent of fresh produce in the UK is sold loose by larger retailers.
"Because most fruit and veg is sold packaged, we have to buy what we're given not what we need, and that means a lot goes to waste," explained Baily. "As a result, our bins have a diet that most nutritionists would envy. And we're a long way from breaking our food waste habit because of this packaging."
Better access to loose produce, the introduction of smaller pack sizes at comparable prices, and curbing in-store promotions that encourage over-purchasing for perishables are some of the recommendations for retailers offered by WRAP.
The non-governmental organisation is also calling for a consultation for a potential ban on packaging for 21 products in the fresh produce aisles, estimating that 60,000 tonnes of food waste could be prevented if all apples, potatoes, and bananas were sold loose.
A recent study from environmental charity, Hubbub, supports these recommendations, with 86 per cent of respondents favouring increased availability of loose fruit and vegetables.
Consumer attitudes towards food waste
The report suggests that concern around food only minorly changed between 2023 and 2024, with core attitudes towards price and quality remaining largely stable.
However, there was a notable gap between the higher level of recognition of food waste as an important national issue (86 per cent), and an issue for people personally. 10 per cent of respondents agreed that they were comfortable wasting food, with a further 17 per cent were ambivalent.
Those more likely to be comfortable with wasting food included younger people (18 per cent), consumers with a high number of displaced meals (32 per cent), those who agreed food waste was unimportant (34 per cent), and respondents who felt addressing food waste was too much hassle (31 per cent).
WRAP's research also identified a correlation between high waste levels and alternative food shopping methods, including click and collect services, fruit and vegetable box schemes, subscription deliveries, and food delivery companies.
To address consumer indifference, WRAP recommends developing targeted behaviour change interventions and conducting further research into psychological and contextual factors that normalise food waste.
The impact of separate food waste collection roll out in England in 2026 under Simpler Recycling should also be considered, with the report advocating for pilot schemes to assess what could be included into the communications and service change guidance with the new scheme.
WRAP EU launched in January 2025 with the International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC) to focus on tackling food waste in the hospitality and food services sector in Europe, with aims of achieving a 50 per cent reduction by 2030.
