Reducing food waste has direct effects on environmental protection, economic efficiency and support for vulnerable groups, given that more than 3.4 million tonnes of food are discarded annually in Romania, according to representatives of the Federation of Food Banks in Romania.
"When we talk about food waste, the first image that often comes to mind is a half-eaten plate thrown away or a product forgotten at the back of the fridge. However, the reality is far more complex and profound. Reducing food waste is not just about the food itself, but about a much broader impact, with direct effects on the environment, the economy and social balance," they said in a press release.
According to the source, reducing waste primarily means less pressure on natural resources.
"When we throw away food, we waste not only the final product, but also all the water, soil, labour and energy used to produce, process, package and transport it. Therefore, preventing food losses is a concrete and immediate step towards protecting the environment and reducing polluting emissions," the release said.
At the same time, tackling food waste plays a direct role in ensuring that food reaches those who need it most, contributing to improved nutrition and access to food for vulnerable groups, the organisation's representatives added.
"Beyond the human aspect, there is also a real economic impact: reducing losses leads to more efficient operational systems and a food supply chain that functions much better in the long term," the document notes.
At an individual level, reducing household waste has a direct impact on one's ecological footprint and on how resources are used on a daily basis, while also helping protect the family budget.
"We are living through a painful paradox: while statistics show that more than 3.4 million tonnes of food are thrown away annually at national level, according to Eurostat data for 2022, entire communities still struggle with access to food as a daily concern," the federation's representatives added.
According to the source, over 27% of the country's population is at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
"As a key link in the chain, our network recovers surplus food still fit for consumption from economic operators and quickly and safely redirects it where it is needed. In practice, we turn an imminent loss for the industry into tangible support for hundreds of thousands of people, through our partner organisations," the press release reads.
Waste does not resolve itself, but requires committed action from everyone, from consumers to large companies, the source stressed.
"In everyday life, change starts at home. We can reduce waste by organising the fridge according to the FIFO principle (first in, first out), learning the difference between 'use by' (food safety) and 'best before' (optimal quality), and planning purchases to avoid excess," the release further said.
At the same time, economic operators across the agri-food chain can turn surplus stocks into community support.
"Under Law 217/2016 (amended and supplemented by Law 49/2024) on reducing food waste, companies can donate products to food banks, benefiting from important tax incentives (full deductibility of expenses and VAT exemption for transferred products)," the document notes.
Since its establishment in 2016 and until the end of 2025, the Food Banks Network has collected more than 41,000 tonnes of products, transformed into over 76 million food portions, distributed through more than 800 partner NGOs to 325,000 vulnerable people.
Of this total, more than 37,000 tonnes represent food saved from waste, over 3,000 tonnes were collected through the National Food Collection campaign, and nearly 1,400 tonnes consist of non-food products.
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