As of December 2025, Greece is facing a food waste paradox: full shopping carts 🛒 but even fuller bins 😬.
Despite a brutal cost-of-living squeeze this year, households in Greece tossed away a staggering 201 kilograms of food per person in 2023 — the highest in the EU, where the average was 130 kilograms.
Across Europe, families in 2023 dumped 58.2 million tons of food. Households are to blame for about 53% of that waste. Meanwhile in Greece, 11.3% of residents say they can't afford a proper meal every other day, compared with an EU average of 8.5%.
Experts point to a mix of overbuying, confusing date labels, and a cultural habit of cooking more than needed. But as prices soar, toss-worthy meals are also a hit to household budgets.
Initiatives are sprouting: local NGOs team up with restaurants to rescue surplus food 🍞➡️🍽️, and apps help shoppers plan meals and share leftovers. Still, tackling this issue demands a fresh mindset: buy smarter, save more, waste less.
For Greece, reducing food waste isn't just about protecting wallets or the planet — it's about closing the gap between hunger and overflowing bins. Ready to rethink your plate? 🌍✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
