Every year, Australians, as well as New Zealanders, throw away approximately 4.12 million tonnes of food waste. Our larger population also means that we generate most of the garbage. In the end, New Zealand tosses just more than 122,500 tons of our food garbage.
No matter how these statistics are broken down in the end, food waste is a problem that affects the entire world. It is a waste of natural resources, causes the climate crisis, and eats from our incomes.
What is the reason food waste is an issue?
The waste food we throw away is not just a waste of the food items itself. It is a waste of natural resources as well as money.
Water is the main ingredient in any food, from vegetables and fruits to breads and cheeses. The quantity of water required for the production of our food could be a shock to you. The bread loaf will require around 1125 liters. Five thousand liters of water is needed for a kilo of cheese. It takes 15,500 liters of water to produce just one gram of beef! Every time we throw away unfinished food items, we’re wasting massive amounts of clean water.
Food production also requires massive quantities of oil. It is used for everything from factory and farming production to the transportation of these products to supermarkets (not including the gasoline needed to transport us from and to stores). In the world, about 300 million barrels are consumed every year to plant and create food items that are eventually thrown away.
For Australians, food waste could affect our budgets in a significant way. A typical Australian household is spending $1,036 annually on food that gets to be thrown away. For a lot of families, that could provide enough food for the family in a single month. It could also pay the cost of utilities, or even a portion of their mortgage payments, or increase the savings in their account.
Food waste also contributes to the climate change. A large portion of food waste that is thrown away ends up in landfills, which decays as it releases methane gas–a harmful pollutant. Methane is also generated by animal farming and vehicle exhaust. This means that every time we dispose of unused meat, we contribute to the formation of Methane Gas three times.
7 Tips to stop food waste
So, how can ordinary Australians avoid food waste? Making a few tweaks to our habits could create a little impact. Here are a few practical methods to reduce the amount of food we waste.
- Create a weekly menu.
Reducing food waste is just as easy as not purchasing additional food items to begin with. The planning of your menu could aid you in buying only the things you’ll consume each week. - Do a stock-take prior to going shopping.
What is the most frequent time you purchase something from the supermarket only to realize that you already have the item in your kitchen? Before you go to the shop, you should take a look at the contents of your pantry and fridge. If you accidentally buy double food items, shift the old items to the back and make use of them first. - Buy locally
Reduce carbon emissions by buying foods made as close to home as possible. This food doesn’t require you to travel far to arrive at your table. It’s also a great opportunity to help local farmers, dairy farms, and artisans. - Don’t serve too much food.
A large portion size can result in food being wasted. Place less food on your family members’ plates, and allow them to have a second serving when they want. It is also possible to try making smaller plates to assist you in consuming less food overall. - Consume leftovers
Your family could save leftovers of home-cooked or takeaway meals. But do you actually take them in? Make leftovers into lunches for the following day or incorporate them for dinners throughout the week. Desserts that are sweet, such as cakes or cookies, can be shared with your friends or coworkers. - Understand expiration dates
A misinterpretation of expiration dates can cause shoppers to throw away perfectly excellent food. Most of the time, “sell by” and “best by” labels are guidelines. A quick taste or smell test can tell you whether something is suitable to serve. “Use by” dates should be treated with more care, especially when it comes to refrigerated items. - Create a compost pile.
Despite the steps mentioned that you’ve read about, you could have leftover kitchen scraps that aren’t able to be used. Instead of throwing it away, you can begin to compost it. Composting can improve the soil of your garden and also help the plants grow.
It is possible to reduce food loss by reducing food waste
Simple changes in how we buy, eat, and dispose of unused food items could aid in helping Australia or New Zealand combat our food waste issue. Take a look at what steps could help your workplace or at home. The savings that could be realized can allow you to increase your spending while also helping the planet while doing it.
