Food waste is a global problem that needs to be stopped

Sustainability is about more than consuming less resources. It’s about wasting less, and feeding more. There’s no bigger waste currently happening in the world than food waste. It’s no small issue. In fact, the United Nations marked it as the #2 topic of their 2030 sustainable development goals. Clearly, this is a global issue. Find out some food waste facts below, as well as how to counter them.

Fact #1

A third of the world’s annual food production ends up in the trash. That’s 1.3 BILLION TONNES of edible food wasted. It’s food that could feed 868 million of the world’s hungry. In fact, it’s 4-times the amount of food they need to lead nourished lives.

  • Plan your meals more carefully and always be aware of ‘use-by’ dates. Not only will it help you save money, but save precious food resources.
  • Keep an eye on what’s inside your fridge. Be mindful of the perishable food you have, and use older foods to create new meals. Go to our Respect Food recipes to get started.

Fact #2

Fruits, vegetables and cereals account for 70% of the wastage.

  • 70% of household fridges are set at too high a temperature. Ensure that food is stored according to instructions on the pack. Many new fridges have special compartments that allow goods to be stored at different temperatures.
  • Store your fruits and vegetables in the fridge. Leaving fruits outside cuts its lifespan in half.
  • Buy funny-looking produce. Many fruits and vegetables are thrown away because their size, shape, or colours don’t match what we expect these items should look like. Very rarely are these products bad to eat, and if it’s not purchased, it get tossed out.

Fact #3

If wasted food was a country, it would be the third largest producer of carbon dioxide in the world.

  • Dedicate one dinner very week to using leftover ingredients. Instead of preparing a completely new meal, use leftovers and other foods that might get overlooked.
  • On that note – eat your leftovers. If you don’t want to eat leftovers the day after they’re cooked, freeze and save them for later.

Fact #4

Research estimates that between 30% – 50% of the total amount of food thrown away comes from our own kitchens.

  • Just be mindful of how you use food. There are infinite ways to save resources and waste less. You can even choose kitchen technologies that are purposely built to conserve counter unnecessary waste.
  • Consider joining a cause dedicated to fighting food waste. Food for Soul, for example, is a non-profit organisation founded by Chef Massimo Bottura to encourage communities to fight food waste in the interest of social inclusion and individual wellbeing.