How to Prevent Food Waste & Fight Climate Change
Food waste is a global issue that affects not only our wallets but also the environment. Unconsumed foods are responsible for a large portion of the global warming crisis. By understanding the effect of food waste on the planet, one can take steps to limit its impact and help protect our environment from further destruction.
Cutting out food waste can help fight climate change. When food isn’t consumed, its production still has a huge environmental footprint from farming to grocery store packaging. Research from the Center for Biological Diversity stated that an estimated 25 percent of the world’s climate-warming pollution comes from the food system alone. Moreover, it found that if global food waste reduction was adopted, we could reduce climate-warming emissions equivalent to those of a billion car trips across the United States.
In this article, we’ll explore what food waste is, why it’s becoming a major concern, and how to prevent it to fight climate change.
What is Food Waste?
Food waste is defined as any edible portion of food that is thrown away or not used. It includes any food item that has been purchased, cooked/processed/prepared but then discarded after it has been partially or completely consumed. According to the World Bank, food waste is estimated to contribute to 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Food waste is a problem that is usually caused by two main groups: those who produce food and those who consume it.
Producers of food waste include manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, supermarkets and food service providers such as caterers. When food exceeds in quantity or quality, it is often discarded, meaning it never reaches consumers.
Consumers are also responsible for food waste. Fallen fruit, overcooking and portion size control are all ways that people contribute to food waste.
Why is Food Waste a Problem?
Food waste is a major global concern because when food is wasted, resources are wasted. All of the time, energy and water used to grow, cultivate, harvest and process the food is also wasted.
According to the UN Food & Agriculture Organization, the human population throws away one-third of the food it produces into the world’s landfills and compost bins. This equates to an annual volume of 1.3 billion tons of food, and this figure is only expected to rise in the future.
Since discarded food doesn’t decompose in landfills as it would in nature, harmful methane gas is released into the atmosphere. Landfill-dwelling food emits between 13 and 19 times more methane than decaying food natural environments and, when combined with other pollutants in the environment, it can significantly contribute to global warming.
In addition to its environmental impact, food waste also impacts our wallets. Studies estimate that the average family in the U.S. wastes between $1,800 and $2,200 in food each year.
To add insult to injury, food waste also adversely affects global food security. With food shortages already prevalent in many parts of the world, it is difficult to understand why some countries still waste food like they do.
How To Prevent Food Waste and Fight Climate Change
Preventing food waste is a great way to help fight climate change. Here are some practical tips for reducing the amount of food waste produced:
- Plan Ahead
Meal planning is one of the best ways to reduce the food that you throw away. Take the time to plan out a week’s worth of meals and snacks, then create a grocery list and stick to it. This will help you only buy what you need, reducing the temptation of impulse purchases and excess.
- Buy Frozen
Frozen foods tend to stay fresh for much longer than fresh foods, and they can help reduce the amount of food tossed in the trash each week. Freezing leftovers for later is also a great way to save food that would otherwise get wasted.
- Patronize Local Farmers
Shopping at farmers’ markets or joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program is a great way to support local farmers and minimize food waste from packaging. Buying in bulk can also save money, and it eliminates the need for packaging that often goes to waste.
- Compost
Composting is an environmentally friendly method for disposing of food waste. Composting not only reduces methane emissions but also turns leftovers into a nutrient-rich soil amendment for gardens.
- Shop Frequency
Another way to reduce food waste is by shopping more often or implementing a ‘shop & dish’ system. Shopping within a few days of a meal means that produce won’t have time to spoil before it’s eaten.
- Store Properly
Making sure food is stored properly can also reduce the amount of food wasted. Foods need to be stored in the right area of the refrigerator and changed to smaller containers if food isn’t used quickly.
- Donate Food
Donating leftover or extra food is a great way to reduce food waste. Contact local food banks or shelters to see if they accept food donations. Community fridges are also popping up around the world as a way for people to share excess food.
It’s more important than ever to reduce our food waste and its impact on the environment. Following some of the steps outlined in this article can help cut down the amount of food thrown away and make a difference in the fight against climate change.
