Against food waste: every action counts! Around 88 million tonnes of food are wasted in the EU every year, with more than half coming from households. Changing the way we shop, cook and plan our meals can really make a difference to prevent the waste of food, money and resources.
As the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is approaching on 29 September, we want to raise awareness and provide citizens with robust information on how simple actions can make a positive change to the problem of food waste in Europe and around the world!
Food waste: the problem in numbers
– 1/3 of all food (1.3 billion tonnes per year) produced in the world for human consumption is lost or wasted
– 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed
– if food loss and waste were a country, it would be the 3rd biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions
– 88 million tonnes of food are discarded every year in the EU
– an average EU citizen wastes around 173 kg of food annually
– vegetables and cereals are the most wasted food groups (~50% of the global food wastage)
8 simple tips to reduce food waste at home
1. Plan your meals: both when shopping and cooking, appropriately planning your meals is your best ally in the fight against food waste.
2. Know how to store your food: organising the fridge (and cupboard) and applying the ‘first-in-first-out’ rule can help you keep track of the food you have before it expires.
3. Understand ‘use by’ vs ‘best before’ dates: not all foods have to be thrown away after they passed their expiration date. By understanding the date labels, you can avoid getting food poisoning and reduce your food waste.
4. Use what you have: whether it’s planning a leftover meal or getting creative with new recipes, using what you have can be a great way to try new recipes and avoid wasting food. Make sure to use leftovers within the next 3 days.
5. Avoid serving too much: food often ends up being thrown out because we served too much for what our stomach could handle. Prevent this from happening by serving smaller portions and coming back for seconds.
6. Know your moulds: not all mouldy foods necessarily need to go to waste! Depending on the type of food, some can still be rescued, while others should not be eaten.
7. Share extra food with others: if the food is still safe to eat, but you know you won’t be able to use it soon, sharing it with your loved ones or those in need is a great way to prevent food waste.
8. Repurpose waste where possible: using your broccoli stems, cauliflower leaves or other food scraps is a smart way to be creative in the kitchen while also preventing food from being wasted.
Have you ever tried a food waste diary?
Tracking how much waste you produce and realising the reason behind it can help you be more conscious about your food waste. Try our free food waste diary template to see what foods you waste, how much of it and for what reasons, so you can make a positive change and avoid wasting it in the future.
