North America Food Waste Management Market is to reach US$136.2 – openPR.com

Global Food Waste Management Market: A Report on Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Market Overview and Projections

The global Food Waste Management Market was valued at US$69.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$136.2 billion by 2032, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2025 to 2032. This growth is indicative of a global shift towards more sustainable practices, directly aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The expansion of the food waste management market is fundamentally linked to achieving key SDGs:

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By reducing food loss and facilitating the redistribution of surplus food, the sector contributes to enhancing food security.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Waste-to-energy processes, such as anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, support the transition to sustainable energy sources.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Effective waste management is a cornerstone of sustainable urban living, reducing the environmental footprint of cities.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): This is the central goal addressed by the market, which promotes circular economy principles, reduces food loss along production and supply chains, and aims to halve per capita global food waste.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Diverting organic waste from landfills mitigates the emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.

Technological Innovations Driving SDG Progress

Recent technological advancements and strategic initiatives are accelerating progress toward SDG targets.

United States Initiatives

1. November 2025: The launch of AI-powered platforms for food operations to improve demand forecasting and inventory management, directly addressing SDG 12.3 by minimizing waste output.
2. November 2025: Afresh introduced “Fresh Buying,” an AI-driven platform designed to optimize the fresh food supply chain, reducing spoilage and supporting SDG 12.
3. October 2025: The U.S. EPA’s “Feed It Onward” program was initiated to enhance food waste reduction and improve food security, aligning with SDG 2 and SDG 12.

Japan Initiatives

1. November 2025: The Japanese government introduced subsidies for smart composting technologies in commercial kitchens, promoting sustainable waste management in line with SDG 11 and SDG 12.
2. October 2025: AI-driven food waste tracking software was launched for Japanese retailers to optimize ordering processes, contributing to the reduction of food spoilage.
3. September 2025: A major firm introduced compact anaerobic digestion units for urban environments, enabling onsite energy recovery (SDG 7) and waste reduction (SDG 11).

Market Segmentation Analysis

By Waste Type

• Fruits & Vegetables: Account for 24% of the market, with high potential for composting, supporting circular economy models (SDG 12).
• Dairy & Dairy Products: Expected to grow at a 7.8% CAGR, driven by the need for sustainable disposal methods for perishable goods.

By Source

• Residential: Dominates with 61% of revenue, highlighting the critical role of household participation in achieving SDG 12.
• Commercial: The fastest-growing segment, reflecting increased corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts in the hospitality and foodservice industries.

By Service

• Collection: Leads with a 53% market share, forming the logistical backbone for sustainable waste management systems.
• Disposal/Recycling: The fastest-growing service, driven by the adoption of anaerobic digestion and other technologies that support SDG 7 and SDG 13.

By Process

• Aerobic and Anaerobic Digestion: Major processes for converting waste into valuable resources like biogas and compost, directly supporting SDG 7, SDG 12, and SDG 13.
• Incineration: A significant process for waste-to-energy conversion.

Regional Initiatives and SDG Progress

United States

The U.S. market, valued at USD 21.65 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 41.47 billion by 2032. Growth is propelled by:

• Stringent regulations and policies promoting food waste diversion, aligning with SDG 12.
• Integration of smart technologies (AI, IoT) for efficient waste tracking, contributing to SDG 11.
• Public-private partnerships for large-scale processing, fostering collaborative action towards the SDGs.

Japan

Japan’s market is expanding due to government initiatives and corporate innovation aimed at sustainability:

• Subsidies for smart composting and waste-to-energy projects (SDG 7, SDG 11).
• Development of technologies tailored for commercial kitchens and retailers to reduce food loss in supply chains (SDG 12).

Corporate Leadership in Sustainability

Key market players are instrumental in advancing the circular economy and contributing to the SDGs.

• Veolia Environnement: Leads with comprehensive recycling and composting solutions that drive sustainable energy generation and circular economy practices.
• SUEZ: Specializes in food waste treatment with a focus on innovative recycling technologies.
• Waste Management, Inc.: Enhances landfill diversion through large-scale collection and composting services.
• Republic Services: Processes significant volumes of organic waste using advanced composting to reduce emissions and produce nutrient-rich compost, fostering sustainable communities (SDG 11, SDG 13).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article connects food waste reduction to improving food security.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The text discusses converting food waste into energy, such as biogas.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The article highlights significant technological advancements and innovations in the waste management industry.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The focus on managing waste from residential sources and in urban areas relates directly to creating sustainable cities.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – This is the central theme, with the entire article focusing on managing food waste, promoting recycling, and advancing a circular economy.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The article mentions that advanced composting processes help in reducing emissions, which is a key aspect of climate action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
  • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. This is connected through the US EPA’s “Feed It Onward” program, which aims to enhance “food security” alongside waste reduction.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article mentions “onsite energy recovery,” “renewable energy from waste, such as biogas from anaerobic digestion,” and “waste-to-energy conversion” as key market drivers.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities. The article is replete with examples, such as the launch of “AI-powered platforms,” “compact anaerobic digestion units,” “AI-driven food waste tracking software,” and the adoption of “AI and IoT for efficient waste tracking and sorting.”
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article addresses this by analyzing waste from residential sources, which “dominates with 61% revenue share,” and discussing solutions for urban settings like “compact anaerobic digestion units for urban food waste” and “wet-market waste separation pilots in mega-cities.”
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses. The article directly addresses this by discussing technologies and initiatives aimed at reducing food waste across the supply chain, from “fresh supply chain buying” optimization to managing waste from “residential,” “commercial,” and “industrial” sources.
  • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The article’s core focus is on waste management services like “Collection,” “Disposal/Recycling,” and processes such as “Aerobic and Anaerobic Digestion” and “composting,” which are central to this target. The mention of “circular economy practices” further reinforces this connection.
• SDG 13: Climate Action
  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article notes that government initiatives, such as “stricter regulations” and “subsidies for smart composting technologies,” are driving the market. It also mentions that Republic Services’ composting methods “reduce emissions,” directly contributing to climate change mitigation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Amount of waste processed/diverted: The article mentions that “Republic Services processes about 2 billion pounds of food and yard waste annually.” This is a direct quantitative indicator of progress in waste management (relevant to Target 12.5).
• Percentage of waste reduction: The article states that “Start-ups deploy AI-vision bins cutting cafeteria plate waste by up to 50%.” This percentage reduction is a clear indicator of progress in waste prevention at the consumer level (relevant to Target 12.3).
• Market growth and investment: The growth of the Food Waste Management Market from “US$69.8 billion in 2024” to a projected “US$136.2 billion by 2032” indicates increasing investment and activity in waste management, serving as a proxy indicator for progress towards sustainable practices (relevant to Targets 9.4 and 12.5).
• Adoption of sustainable technologies: The article’s frequent mention of the launch and adoption of technologies like “AI-powered platforms,” “anaerobic digestion units,” and “smart composting technologies” serves as a qualitative indicator of innovation and infrastructure upgrades for sustainability (relevant to Targets 7.2, 9.4, and 11.6).
• Implementation of government policies: The mention of “stricter sustainability regulations,” “Federal and state-level policies,” and “subsidies” for sustainable technologies are indicators of national integration of climate and sustainability measures (relevant to Target 13.2).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: openpr.com