FOOD WASTE ANALYSIS IN ROMANIA IN COMPARISON TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

This paper focuses on analyzing food waste and assessing its economic impact. In order to wrap our heads around the context of food waste in Romania, there was a need to see how the subject was legislated in the country. Unfortunately, it had a rather difficult journey, requiring at least two years to enter into force in a fair form. To correctly identify the essential aspects of food waste, we presented the ideas of several theorists who have addressed this matter from various perspectives. It is noteworthy that, endorsing a feasible approach, to production and consumption, is very important in order to prevent food waste. Meanwhile, there is not always a clear incentive, for the producer or consumer, in how to reduce food waste. The European and national directions are aimed at accomplishing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. The most important sustainable development objectives, related to our subject, are the number two target - zero hunger and number twelve target - responsible production and consumption. In order to achieve these objectives, the measures taken by the competent institutions, in Romania and at European level, are identified. The graphs and analyzes, presented in our article, show the correlation bounded by food waste at the European level and at the national level, both prior to joining the European Union and beyond. With regard to total food waste, both at national and European level, the overall trend is constant. Actions to diminish food waste in Romania were subsequently observed in Romania's accession to the European Union. Prior to its` accession, Romania did not respect all existing European measures on this issue, but afterwards, a drastic improvement was observed. As a result of this research, we see that food waste raises major problems at national and at European level. The authorities' desire to solve this problem is noticed, and the steps towards resolving it are constantly taken, but it is exceedingly strenuous to estimate the time when food waste will be reduced to such an extent that a change for the good is noticed.

Keywords

• food waste; sustainable development goals; responsible production and consumption.