Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – 9/29/25… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler and (NY-17) Chellie Pingree (ME-01) introduced a bipartisan resolution expressing support for the recognition of September 29, 2025, as International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. 

Each year, nearly 40 percent of all food produced globally, valued at more than $1 trillion, is lost or wasted. Meanwhile, more than 783 million people worldwide face hunger, and 150 million children under five suffer from stunted growth due to chronic nutrient deficiencies. In addition to worsening food insecurity, food waste is a major driver of climate change, accounting for up to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“Food waste is an issue that affects every community, whether it’s families struggling to afford groceries, farmers seeing their hard work go to waste, or the environmental damage caused by methane emissions from landfills. Recognizing the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is about raising attention to this challenge and reaffirming our commitment to smarter food distribution, reducing waste, lowering emissions, and strengthening food security for those in need,” said Congressman Lawler (NY-17).

“It is staggering that nearly 40 percent of all food produced globally is wasted each year. This is bad for the environment, extremely costly, and is a lost opportunity to help feed the those who are food insecure,” said Congresswoman Pingree, co-founder of the Congressional Food Recovery Caucus and member of the House Agriculture Committee. “I’m proud to support the bipartisan resolution to establish an International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste in the United States. By increasing awareness of food loss and waste, we can help spur action to enact policies that help us bolster food recovery.”

“At Too Good To Go, we see how powerful it can be when businesses and communities come together to reduce food waste,” said Chris MacAulay, Vice President of Operations for Too Good To Go, North America. “So much good food is left behind every day, and reducing waste is not an issue that can be solved by one person, company, or entity alone. It requires collective leadership—from policymakers who set priorities, to businesses and communities who put solutions into practice. This bipartisan resolution is a vital step in advancing that shared commitment and building real momentum toward lasting change.”

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Full text of the bill can be found HERE.