The percentage of Poles throwing away food increased by as much as 18 percentage points compared to 2024. The most common items that end up in the trash are: bread (55%), fruit (46%) and vegetables (44%). The main reason is exceeding the use-by date, indicated by 57%. respondents – according to the study.
A positive sign, however, is the increase in consumers who claim that they do not waste at all – in 2025, such declarations will be made by 34%. subjects. Two out of three respondents note that the amount of food thrown away in their homes has decreased over the last twelve months. Another optimistic phenomenon is the fact that Poles are becoming more and more careful when making decisions at store shelves – three-quarters of consumers always or often check expiration dates.
“The report shows that Poles are becoming more and more aware, but they still throw away huge amounts of food. Every loaf of bread or kilogram of fruit that ends up in the trash is wasted farmer's work, energy, water and transport. That is why it is so important that together – consumers, trade and institutions – look for solutions that will actually stop food waste,” says Beata Ciepła, President of the Federation of Polish Food Banks.
“We are aware that companies have a special obligation to fight food waste. We treat this problem as a priority, which is why we implement responsible solutions at every stage of our work. Diligence starts at the source – we optimize orders, discount products with a short expiry date and conduct intensive educational activities for customers. We believe that joint action by consumers and companies is the key to achieving lasting change,” says Aleksandra. Robaszkiewicz, Director of Corporate Affairs and CSR at Lidl Polska.
What to do to avoid wasting food?
“Responsible action starts before you go shopping. It is worth checking the fridge before visiting the store and making a shopping list for meals planned for the next few days,” the authors of the report point out.
“Each shelf in the refrigerator has a different temperature because it is dedicated to a different type of food. It is worth checking the specifications from the refrigerator manufacturer to determine what are the recommendations for storing specific products,” they also add.
They also advise, for example, to share uneaten meals in soup kitchens.
