Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 global goals, all of which aim to create a better world. The film Leftovers will focus on SDG Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, specifically discussing food waste and organic waste
management. The choice of Goal 12 is based on our concern and awareness of the low level of public consciousness regarding wise and responsible food consumption, which undeniably affects both the environment and human health.
Waste remains a significant global issue that has yet to be effectively resolved. According to the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Indonesia generated around 33.79
million tons of waste in 2024, with 39.36% of that being food waste. This type of waste is the largest contributor to the national waste composition, with households as the main source (50.8%), followed by traditional markets (16.67%) and commercial
businesses (11.01%).
Based on the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, Indonesia is the largest generator of food waste in Southeast Asia, producing around 14.73 million tons per year, and ranks among the top five globally in terms of food waste generation.
The high volume of organic waste in Indonesia is driven by excessive and irresponsible food consumption habits. People tend to buy more food than they need, leading to leftovers that are ultimately discarded. These leftovers become organic waste that requires further processing.
However, organic waste management in Indonesia remains inadequate. According to KLHK data, only about 15% of the total organic waste is reused to make compost or biogas, while the rest is directly sent to final disposal sites (TPA).
The Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) even estimates that, without policy intervention, Indonesia’s food loss and waste (FLW) could reach 112 million tons per year, or the equivalent of 344 kg per capita per year—meaning one person in Indonesia could waste almost 1 kilogram of food per day. The economic
impact of this food waste is staggering, reaching IDR 213–551 trillion per year, or about 4–5% of Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Beyond the economic impact, food waste is also a major contributor to the climate crisis: on average, 7.29% of annual greenhouse gas emissions come from discarded food. The energy content of this wasted food could feed 61–125 million
people, or around 29–47% of Indonesia’s population—an irony, considering the country still faces high rates of hunger.
The low public awareness about responsible consumption, combined with the challenges of recycling organic waste, contributes to Indonesia’s persistently high waste volume. Therefore, through the film Leftovers, we want to show the world that
seemingly simple and trivial everyday behaviors can actually have a significant impact on the environment. These are issues we could have prevented or minimized, but due to a lack of attention and education, we often fail to see them as part of our
responsibility.
Through this documentary, we aim to portray the journey of food from the dinner plate to the waste processing site. We will illustrate how food waste is handled by workers in the field—including the challenges they face—while educating the public that responsible consumption is a concrete step anyone can take. Because every leftover on the table carries a footprint and a burden that the Earth ultimately has to bear.