UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024 - Appendix

This document provides a methodological appendix to the Food Waste Index Report 2024, outlining procedures used to develop Level 1 global food waste estimates. It explains the literature review process for identifying suitable studies, criteria for inclusion, and adjustments to ensure comparability across definitions, timeframes, sectors, and destinations. Data extraction covered geographic boundaries, waste quantities, edible versus inedible fractions, and disposal routes, with normalisation to 2022 population figures. The methodology applies sector-specific confidence classifications—High, Medium, Low, and Very Low—based on factors such as measurement methods, representativeness, and scope. Household estimates are derived from national studies or extrapolated from regional and income group averages; retail and food service estimates rely heavily on high-income country data due to limited coverage elsewhere. The appendix also lists subsector-specific and partially aggregated studies that, while not directly used for national estimates, may inform future measurement efforts and help refine baselines.