The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas: Lessons from Food Waste Deterrence Policies in South Korea, France, and Peru

Given the high rate of global food waste and the accompanying social, economic, and environmental challenges posed by this global issue, a growing number of countries are taking action to reduce food waste.

This study, a collaboration between The Global FoodBanking Network, Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, and Global Methane Hub, examines similarities and differences between “food waste deterrence policies” (policies that restrict or ban food waste disposal or require food donation) in three countries that have enacted such a policy: South Korea, France, and Peru.

The analysis looks at the country context of the policy enactments, the development of the policies over time, and any published literature on their impact. The study also used semi-structured interviews of key informants in each country to understand stakeholders’ perspectives on each law’s successes and challenges. The goal of this study was to gather insights into the opportunities, obstacles, and best practices around implementing food waste deterrence policies that could help inform the development of effective food waste deterrence measures in other locations in the future.