Our sworn enemy
Understanding Food Waste
Why It Matters and How It Impacts Our Homes
Design 55 (1)

Food waste refers to food that is fit for consumption but is discarded, often at the retail or consumer level. This can include:

 

·      Leftovers that are thrown away

·      Expired products that are not used in time

·      Over-preparation of food that leads to excess


The Common Misconception


One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding food waste arises from its confusion with the related term "food loss," making it crucial to clarify the distinctions between these two concepts.

 

Food Waste: Occurs at the end of the food supply chain (retail and consumption stages). It involves food that is perfectly edible but is discarded.

 

Food Loss: Happens earlier in the supply chain (production, post-harvest, and processing stages). It includes food that spoils or is lost before it reaches the consumer.

Why food waste matters

Food waste has numerous effects, but they can most notably be clustered into environmental, social, and economic impacts.

 

Environmental Impact: Food waste has a significant environmental footprint. When food is discarded, it often ends up in landfills where it decomposes and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This contributes to climate change and global warming. Additionally, the resources used to produce, process, and transport food—such as water, energy, and land—are wasted when food is thrown away. Reducing food waste can help conserve these precious resources and reduce our overall environmental impact.

 

Social Impact: Food waste also has profound social implications. While millions of tons of food are wasted each year, millions of people around the world suffer from hunger and food insecurity. By reducing food waste, we can help bridge the gap between surplus and scarcity, ensuring that more people have access to the food they need. Initiatives to redistribute surplus food to those in need can make a significant difference in communities.

 

Economic Impact: The economic costs of food waste are staggering. Households, businesses, and governments spend billions of dollars each year on food that is never eaten. This includes the costs of production, transportation, and disposal. By minimizing food waste, we can save money and make our food systems more efficient. Businesses can improve their bottom line by reducing waste, and households can save on grocery bills.

The Shocking Figures

Total Food Waste: Approximately 931 million tonnes of food are wasted each year.

 

Sources of Food Waste: The biggest contributors to Food waste are households, Food services & Retails, with household being the largest contributors to the issue. 

 

·      Households: 61% of food waste comes from households.

·      Food Service: 26% of food waste is generated by the food service sector.

·      Retail: 13% of food waste occurs in the retail sector.

 

Per Capita Waste: On average, each person wastes about 79 kilograms of food annually. In some countries like the USA, this is equated to an annual financial loss of about $1,866.

 

Environmental Impact: Food loss and waste contribute to 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Economic Cost: The global economy loses approximately USD 1 trillion annually due to food waste.

 

Hunger Paradox: Despite the high levels of food waste, 783 million people around the world are going hungry.

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Targets set by the UN, EU & USA to Combat Food waste

Still not convinced. The issue of food waste is so critical that it is recognized as a global problem. In fact, the UN, EU, and USA have all established targets to tackle this pressing phenomenon.


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Food Waste in Our Homes

Households play a crucial role in the alarming statistics surrounding food waste. Globally, approximately one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted, amounting to about 1.3 billion tonnes annually. Within this context, households are significant contributors, with a staggering 40% of the food they purchase ending up in the trash. This equates to an average loss of $1,500 per household annually, representing a severe financial burden and leading to increased grocery bills and higher waste disposal costs as municipalities grapple with the consequences of this waste.

 

Beyond the economic implications, households endure unpleasant smells from decaying food and face the growth of unwanted pests, such as cockroaches, which can pose health risks and necessitate additional pest control measures. Moreover, food waste decomposing in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change.

 

By addressing their food waste issues, households can make a significant contribution to environmental sustainability. Reducing food waste helps lower methane emissions from landfills and conserves resources such as water, energy, and labor. Additionally, redirecting excess food to those in need can help combat hunger and improve food security.

With the understanding that households are the biggest contributors to food waste, accounting for over 60% of the total, it is crucial to understand why this happens. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the leading causes of household food waste include:

 

Improper Storage: Food often goes bad before it is used due to improper storage. This can be caused by a lack of visibility in refrigerators, partially used ingredients, and misjudged food needs.

 

Over-Preparing: Cooking or serving too much food is a common issue. Portion sizes have increased over time, and large meals often include more food than can be finished. Additionally, people frequently forget to eat leftovers, which then get thrown away.

 

Large Portions: This is especially common in restaurants, where increased portion sizes contribute significantly to waste. Meals are often left uneaten, and edible leftovers are frequently left behind. All-you-can-eat buffets are particularly wasteful, as extra food cannot legally be reused or donated due to health code restrictions. The practice of keeping buffets fully stocked during business hours, rather than allowing items to run out near closing, also creates waste.

 

Date Label Confusion: Many people prematurely discard food due to confusion over the meaning of date labels (e.g., "sell by," "best by," "use by").

 

Overbuying : Sales on unusual products and promotions that encourage impulse and bulk purchases often lead consumers to buy items that do not fit into their regular meal plans and spoil before they can be used.

 

 Poor Planning: Without meal plans and shopping lists, consumers often make inaccurate estimates of what and how many ingredients they will use during the week. Unplanned restaurant meals or food delivery can also lead to food at home going bad before it can be used.

 

Lack of Freezing : Confusion about whether a product is suitable for freezing and how best to freeze it to maintain its quality and storage life can lead to food spoilage.

 

By addressing these issues, households can significantly reduce their food waste, saving money and resources while also contributing to environmental sustainability.

Destruction of Ecosystems & Biodiversity

The negative impact we champion 

Certainly, losing money from wasted food appears to be the most pressing concern for many, as it is a regular experience. At +Green, we have made it our goal to highlight the environmental impact of food waste, an aspect that is often overlooked or misunderstood in terms of how our consumption habits contribute to pressing environmental issues, such as erratic weather patterns. We further emphasize this impact by focusing on beloved ecosystems and endangered species that are at risk of extinction due to our wasteful behaviors.

Threats to Endangered Species

The destruction of habitats and ecosystems due to food waste has a direct impact on endangered species. As agricultural expansion and pollution degrade natural habitats, many species lose their homes and sources of food. For example, the deforestation of rainforests for agricultural purposes threatens species like the orangutan, which relies on these forests for survival. Similarly, pollution from agricultural runoff can destroy aquatic habitats, endangering species such as the freshwater dolphin. By addressing food waste, we can reduce the pressure on these critical habitats and help protect the species that depend on them.


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Threats to Places

Food waste significantly contributes to the destruction of ecosystems. The resources used to produce food that ultimately goes to waste—such as water, land, and energy—are immense. For instance, vast amounts of water are used to irrigate crops, and large tracts of land are cleared for agriculture. When this food is wasted, the resources used in its production are also wasted, leading to unnecessary habitat loss and degradation. This process disrupts natural ecosystems, reduces biodiversity, and alters the balance of our environment. By reducing food waste, we can help preserve these vital ecosystems and the services they provide.


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