Hävikit

Hävikit is a Finnish plural noun commonly used to denote various forms of loss, spoilage or waste, especially in contexts such as food, materials, energy and inventory. In everyday language it most often refers to food waste—edible products that are discarded or lost at any stage from production to consumption—but the term also applies to manufacturing scrap, inventory shrinkage and other unwanted by-products.

Discussion of hävikit typically covers measurement, causes and consequences. Quantifying hävikit uses units such as mass (kilograms or tonnes) or economic value, and assessments may examine supply-chain stages to identify hotspots. Common causes include overproduction, logistical failures, imperfect forecasting, improper storage, confusing date labels and consumer behavior. Environmental and economic consequences include unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, lost resources and financial costs.

Responses to hävikit focus on prevention, redistribution and recovery. Preventive measures include demand forecasting, improved storage and packaging, and clearer labeling. Redistribution channels such as food banks and surplus marketplaces redirect edible products, while recovery options like composting and anaerobic digestion repurpose inedible waste. Policy measures, corporate targets and civil-society campaigns also play roles in reducing hävikit by encouraging transparency, reporting and behavioral change.

The term is widely used in Finnish public discourse and policy debates about sustainability and the circular economy, reflecting broader efforts to minimize unnecessary loss and make resource use more efficient.