With economic pressures rising for those in high income countries and in the context of global poverty levels remaining unabated, food waste makes little economic sense. Over consumption also exerts and environmental impact, requiring food to be transported needlessly across countries. Wasted food that ends up in the garbage, and ultimately the landfill, also produces methane—a greenhouse gas.
Taking the U.K. as an example, a survey has found that a typical household throws away enough leftovers to feed an additional five people each week.
A nationwide study considered mealtime wastage and revealed that, despite the cost of living crisis, on average households are discarding the equivalent of 260 plates of lunch or dinner a year.
The study also found that almost one quarter (23 percent) of households admitted they routinely cook too much at mealtimes, with 25 percent claiming they keep leftovers in the fridge for a while, but inevitably end up throwing them in the wastebin.
The study comes from a company called HelloFresh Gardens (a new community project) designed to support a collection of growing spaces around the UK. The study also found that, in addition to portions of leftovers, during an average month, people will discard the equivalent of a block of cheese, four bags of salad, four leeks, a whole cucumber and four slices of toast.
In addition, a litre of milk will be poured down the sink, while four carrots, four sausages, two cartons of yoghurt and two pots of hummus will also be chucked.
However, almost half of households polled (44 percent) feel guilty about throwing away perfectly good food. One reason for discarding so much is memory, for over a fifth (21 percent) said they sometimes stumble across leftovers in their fridge which they completely forgot were there.
Another reason is purchasing too much in advance. Here over a third (35 percent) admitted that they struggle to get through all their fruit and vegetables before it starts going mouldy, while 26 percent do not use up food before the use by date, so throw it away instead.
Despite the poor disposal figures, the importance of utilising food is high in the public consciousness. The survey also showed that one in two households (49 percent) feel more switched on about the issue of food waste than ever before. To add to this, 34 percent insist they do want to be more sustainable, but they are unsure how to proceed.
A high proportion (44 percent) stated they would like to try to buy exactly what they need to feed themselves and their families, and nothing more. At the same time, 49 percent felt that the rising cost of living in the closing days of Johnson’s Administration is creating a bigger challenge when it comes to making sustainable food choices.
Discussing these outcomes Laurent Guilleman, CEO at HelloFresh UK, tells Digital Journal: “Our new research exposes the stark realities of the UK’s food waste problem. It’s especially pertinent now as consumers are trying to juggle the rising cost of living with making sustainable choices. Carefully pre-portioned ingredients dramatically reduce food waste.”
