If you’re one of the 81 per cent of UK citizens concerned about climate change, you may be surprised to learn that we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint by reducing food waste at home.
Studies show that 30 per cent of man-made CO2e greenhouse gases are created from the production and consumption of food. It’s a significant amount, but only 32 per cent of us see a clear link between climate change and food waste.
Each year, UK householders throw away a staggering 4.5 million tonnes of edible food, the equivalent of 8 meals per week.
Items such as potatoes, bread, milk, meat and fruit juices are top of the list when it comes to food waste.
Every day we throw away 20 million whole slices of bread (equivalent to 1,000,000 loaves at 20 slices per loaf), 4.4 million whole potatoes and 3.1 million glasses’ worth of milk. In fact, 70 per cent of all food wasted in the UK is from our homes.
Food Waste Action Week (7-13th March) highlights the need to start connecting food waste with climate change and taking action to reduce avoidable wastage, and value our food.
We can reduce food waste by making small changes, such as:
- Planning ahead – meal prep for the week ahead and only buy the food you need
- Portion control – only cook what you need
- Shop smart – check the cupboards and fridge before you go shopping. Make a list. Stick to it!
- Know your dates – keep an eye on use by dates and freeze anything you won’t eat in time. Food can be eaten after the best before date as it refers to the quality, not the safety.
- Eat your leftovers – either turn leftovers into another meal or freeze them for another time
- Freeze – a freezer acts as a pause button and you’d be surprised as just how much we can freeze. Eggs, hard cheese and bread are just some examples!
Reducing food waste is not only better for the environment but also our pockets, especially as food costs continue to rise. The average family household could save up to £60 a month just by reducing food waste.
For more information and top tips on reducing food waste at home, visit www.recycledevon.org.