A growing number of Europeans are turning to frozen foods as a way to reduce food waste, according to a new survey by Nomad Foods. Nearly half of respondents across the UK, Italy, France, Germany, and Sweden reported buying more frozen products for this reason, with the UK leading the shift at almost 60%. The appeal lies in longer shelf life, which helps families avoid throwing away unused food and saves money in the process.
The trend also brings wider climate benefits. With the EU generating around 59 million tonnes of food waste each year, frozen food plays a role in curbing methane emissions from landfills while lowering the waste of water, land, energy, and packaging invested in food production. Studies show that frozen products are discarded far less often than fresh ones, and even small changes in freezer management could cut millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually—making frozen food not just a household convenience, but a meaningful part of Europe’s sustainability efforts. More