Food waste is money: what a household bins each year, and how to get it back
A Swiss household throws away around 90 kilograms of still-edible food per person a year, worth roughly CHF 600 per person (foodwaste.ch). Across the whole value chain it is around 330 kilograms per capita, but households cause around 40 percent of it. Wasting less is the simplest saving, because you do nothing but eat what you already bought.
Updated regularly. Food waste is not only an environmental issue, it is money: a Swiss household throws away around 90 kilograms of still-edible food per person a year, worth roughly CHF 600 per person (foodwaste.ch, based on federal data). That is food that was bought but never eaten. The good news: you get almost all of that back, with no sacrifice, through a few habits.
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How much does food waste cost a household?
Around CHF 600 per person per year, equal to about 90 kilograms of edible food that ends up in the bin instead of on the plate (foodwaste.ch). In a multi-person household it adds up accordingly, though the per-person figure falls slightly in larger households. For context: across the whole value chain, from farming through processing and retail to catering, Switzerland loses around 330 kilograms of avoidable food per capita (ETH Zurich and BAFU, reference year 2017; down only slightly by 2024). Households cause around 40 percent of the avoidable losses, and that is exactly where your lever is. The federal target is to halve avoidable losses by 2030; the interim target of minus 25 percent by 2025 was clearly missed.
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Household, edible waste | ~90 kg / ~CHF 600 per person/year | your direct lever |
| Whole value chain | ~330 kg per capita/year | farm to catering, NOT household only |
| Households' share of avoidable losses | ~40 % | consumer behaviour |
How do I get the money back?
1. Plan before shopping. Check what you already have first, and buy perishables only in amounts you will actually use (foodwaste.ch). 2. Cook leftovers instead of binning them. The biggest lever against food waste is turning what is left into a meal. That is exactly what the Rappn recipes section is for: it suggests dishes that fit what you have or what is on offer right now. 3. Read the best-before date correctly. A best-before date is a quality date, not a safety one; many products are perfectly fine after it. Only the use-by date on risk perishables is a hard limit. 4. Rescue surplus. Apps like Too Good To Go sell surprise bags from around CHF 5, well below shop value; more in our how to save on groceries guide.
The core point: wasting less is the simplest saving there is, because you do nothing extra for the money except eat what you already bought. In the Rappn app you plan your shop, find the cheapest basket through the price comparison, and cook with the recipes from what you have. That turns avoided food waste into a real amount in your account.
Sources checked: .
This is Rappn's home screen: plan your shop, find the cheapest basket, and use the recipes to cook from what you already have, the simplest way to waste less and save. Tap around to try it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much food does a Swiss household throw away per year?
Around CHF 600 worth per person per year, equal to about 90 kilograms of still-edible food that ends up in the bin (foodwaste.ch, based on federal data). Across the whole value chain it is around 330 kilograms per capita, but that is not a household-only figure.
How does cutting food waste actually save money?
Plan before shopping, check your stock, buy perishables in manageable amounts and cook leftovers instead of binning them. Wasting less is the simplest saving because you do nothing extra for the money except eat what you already bought.
Is food dangerous once the best-before date has passed?
No. The best-before date is a quality date; most products are perfectly fine after it. Only the use-by date on risk perishables like minced meat or fish is a real safety limit you should respect.
What share of food waste comes from households?
Around 40 percent of avoidable food losses in Switzerland happen in households (BAFU / foodwaste.ch). That is why your own behaviour is the biggest lever you personally control.