Introduction
How well do you know the reality of food wastage, how common is it actually?
Food wastage has become accepted and sometimes glorified on social media, through the exposure of viral TikTok videos of users wasting litres of sauces and tonnes of food.
We all know the videos.
In this article we are going to further discuss the environmental impacts of food waste as well as ways, you can reduce your food wastage.
Environmental Impacts of Food Wastage
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) conducted a report on the environmental impacts of food wastage and found the following:
- The global volume of food wastage is estimated at 1.6 billion tonnes of “primary product equivalents.” Total food wastage for the edible part of this amounts to 1.3 billion tonnes.
- Food wastage’s carbon footprint is estimated at 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent to GHG released into the atmosphere per year.
- The total volume of water used each year to produce food that is lost or wasted (250km3) is equivalent to the annual flow of Russia’s Volga River, or three times the volume of Lake Geneva.
- Similarly, 1.4 billion hectares of land – 28 per cent of the world’s agricultural area – is used annually to produce food that is lost or wasted.
- A low percentage of all food waste is composted: much of it ends up in landfills and represents a large part of municipal solid waste. Methane emissions from landfills represent one of the largest sources of GHG emissions from the waste sector.
The repercussions of the volume of food waste are staggering and understated, in relation to the global contribution to climate change.
Check out this article on how climate change is damaging your health!
What you can do to reduce food wastage
1. Composting
Compost is a type of fertilizer that uses decayed organic matter to help plants grow.
Composting is a very effective way to reduce food wastage. Home composting can potentially divert up to 150 kg of food waste per household per year from local collection authorities, according to the FAO.
To make compost you need to, collect natural materials that you would otherwise discard.
Such as:
- Food Scraps
- Leaves
- Yard trimming
Once you have collected these materials all you need to do is leave them to decompose over time in a compost bin or back garden.
Click here for a comprehensive step-by-step guide on How to Compost.
2. Organising Your Fridge
Move older products and products with a sooner best-before date to the front of the fridge. This encourages you to use goods that are expiring sooner.
The Food Standards Agency UK states :
Use-by date – Relates to food safety
Best before date – Relates to food quality
3. Avoid Bulk Buying
I know! I know! “Bulk buying is so much more convenient than doing small trips every week” I wholeheartedly agree. It most definitely is.
On the other hand, Research suggests you are more likely to waste food, by doing so. Bulk buying increases your chance of buying, for the sake of buying and not purchasing food with meals in mind.
If you do choose to bulk buy, bulk buy in tinned food that can last a very long time!
4. Buy Purposefully
Leave the house with a shopping list and stick to your shopping list. This will save you money in the long term and is better for the planet too! Double Whammy!
5. Your Freezer Is Your Friend
Become acquainted with using your freezer. If you have leftover sauces, freeze them! If you have leftover dinner, freeze it! This will save you time next time you want to eat but can’t be bothered to cook, we’ve all been there! Make your life easier for yourself. Save time, money and the environment!
Final Thoughts
Food wastage is at an all-time high and you can help reduce it whilst saving yourself time and money in the process! If you are interested in reducing food wastage, consider the following:
- Compost vegetable waste
- Organise your fridge
- Avoid Bulk Buying
- Buy Purposefully
- Freeze, leftover food.
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