Approximately 88 megatonnes (Mt) of food are wasted every year in the European Union, causing 186 metric tons (Mt) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) -- a universal measure for all greenhouse gases. The impact of food waste on the climate, acidification and eutrophication is around 15-16% of the environmental impact of the entire food chain. In developed countries, food waste is high at the point of consumption-- so significantly reducing food losses would require a food-waste reduction in households and the food-services sector.
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