* And nobody even likes wasting food.
30-40% not eaten
That’s 1.3 billion tonnes worldwide wasted per year.
25% of world’s freshwater supply wasted
25% of the world’s freshwater supply is used to grow food that is never eaten
> your body weight / year
Annual per capita waste by consumers is between 95-115kgs a year for Europeans and North Americans, while in south and southeastern Asia, it is 6-11kgs.
870 million people could be fed with 1/4
If 25% of the food currently being lost or wasted globally were saved, it would be enough to feed 870 million people around the world.
agriculture = 1. cause of deforestation
Agriculture is the number one cause of deforestation.
We put together a small list of possible action-points you can implement to fight the food waste.
But we know that changing habits does not happen over night. So start small and see it as a journey.
To go shopping with a clear intention and checking what you have at home before leaving, have proven to be effective measures to avoid over-buying.
Designate a notepad and place for your shopping-list. Or create a list on your Phone
Don't go shopping hungry 😂. This will help your purse as well.
Have a snack before you go shopping
Together we are stronger... and have more fun. Many people living in a building or close to their neighbours create food-sharing groups, via chat or social media. People can post food they do not like or need, and others pick it up. This is especially handy when someone goes on vacation or finds out he/she is allergic to a tasty granola-bar.
Start (or join) a group chat in your house or neighbourhood
These food-sharing initiatives also exist in bigger scales. Many local initiatives collect huge amounts of food from supermarkets, wholesalers, bakeries and restaurants and share them at events or pick-up points. Joining these initiatives can be fun and very rewarding.
Search up an organisation in your city or village. Our list might help.
"Best by", does not mean "immediately poisonous after". What labels mean unfortunately varies a lot depending on where you live and what product it is about. So:
Next time in doubt, search up what the label actually means
But luckily we are not limited to our label-reading abilities. You can also use your eyes, nose, fingers and tastebuds to detect the quality of food.
Use your senses to check food quality
Having too much food to eat it all alone?
Cook dinner for your friends
As we said, reducing food waste is a journey. And what we suggest here is far from a complete guide. So to keep this journey in mind get inspired by the wonderful people already active. Just search for #foodwaste or #foodsaving on your favourite medium, and we are sure you will find great people. Here are some suggestions from us:
JUST EAT IT. Foodwaste movie
Max Lamanna on youtube
Instagram Love Food hate waste
You can influence how long food stays fresh by the way you store it. The most obvious way is to
Use your freezer more frequently to save meals and food
But you can also take it to the next level and become a master at storing by watching this video.
There are great companies that try to reduce food waste by providing you with great services. Apps like Toogoodtogo or ResQ Club connect you with restaurants that have meals to spare for strongly reduced prices.
Download Toogoodtogo or ResQ Club.
Many fruits and vegetables do not even make it to the supermarket because they are seen as too ugly. And there are companies who will buy them from farmers and send those tasty misfits right to your doorstep for a reduced price. Check out which companies operate in your region. We listed some here.
Check our list: Foodsaving-box companies
