As we all focus on going green and becoming more environmentally conscious, there are a few things we can pay attention to that can help our planet. In this case though we are not talking about recycling or growing our own vegetables; we’re talking about food waste. A problem that has become so large that it’s gaining global press.
Take a look at the stats so that you know what’s what, and can work towards making a difference, too.
The Harsh Statistics
The first and probably most despair-inducing statistic of all is the gross weight of wasted food. It is estimated that as much as 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year.
The monetary value of that 1.3 billion tons of food is estimated to be a jaw dropping $1 trillion USD.
If just one quarter of the wasted food was recovered, it could be used to easily feed the 795 million, or one in nine starving or malnourished people around the world. The food wastage from wealthy countries is roughly the equivalent to food production as a whole across the African continent, which once again highlights just how much waste equals money.
Another startling statistic is that one of every three food calories produced is wasted, so we are only consuming 2 thirds of all food that is produced. This means that 1 third of food ends up in a landfill and goes to waste.
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A Future Issue
According to a professor at the Università della Tuscia, climate change will undoubtedly raise the price of food by as much as 84% by the year 2050. However, the biggest issue here is that food waste is actually spurring on the speed at which the climate is changing. Food waste generates 3.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, and this accelerates global climate change.
The Solution
If you want to be part of the solution, now is the time to take the initiative. Statistics show that more than 50% of food waste takes place in households, and that in the UK alone an average family throws away 22% of their weekly shop. The obvious answer here is to stop throwing food away, but is it really that easy?
In short, yes, it just takes a bit of effort.
If you follow these 10 tips you can drastically reduce food waste, save money and help save the planet:
- Shop responsibly.
- Avoid buying too much food.
- Don’t over-cater when cooking.
- Save and eat all your leftovers.
- Store food correctly so that it does not go off and have to be thrown away.
- Don’t buy more food if you have food at home.
- Track expiry and best before dates.
- Keep track of what you throw away.
- Start your own compost using food waste.
- Donate food that may be close to expiry that you won’t get round to using.
