What percentage of unsold or uneaten food from the Paris 2024 Olympics was recovered?
100%
Over 13 million meals were provided at the Paris 2024 Olympics, making it the largest catering event in the world. The games pledged the recovery of 100% of food that’s not consumed, executed by either redistributing it to charities, converting it to animal feed, or turning it into compost.
It was also the most vegetarian-friendly Olympics to date. Doubling the amount of vegetables and plant-based protein on plates helped halve the carbon footprint of meals served compared to previous games.
Sustainable food production and consumption is essential to reducing greenhouse emissions. Animal agriculture alone is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. For comparison, aviation is responsible for 2% of emissions.[1]
You can invest in sustainable food production through solutions such as precision agriculture, sustainable irrigation systems, and organic farming.
Source: Paris 2024 Food Vision, 100% of Food Resources Recovered (p. 25)
Matter of Facts are small insights into inspiring sustainable solutions.
[1] Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). (2022). Greenhouse gas emissions: agriculture.
