With rising inflation, everyone is feeling the pinch from the increasing costs of the weekly grocery shop. One way to help keep costs down and do your bit for the planet is to become more aware of what you are buying versus the food you are wasting each week.
On top of the environmental benefits, it will also help to save money as the average Irish household throws away €700 worth of food every year. Taking some time to pay attention to the food you throw out and figuring out how to throw less away can keep food out of the bin and keep money in your pocket. How does this help the planet? Globally, 17% of all food produced goes to waste. Producing and transporting food uses land, water, and energy, and 8%-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the creation and disposal of food that is never eaten. If food waste was a country, it would be the world’s 3rd biggest emitter! With pressure currently being put on global food production and supply chains, it is more important than ever to ensure we’re not throwing food away.
The Climate Alarm Clock, Ireland’s first climate news podcast, is inviting listeners to take part in a Food Waste Challenge where they will learn valuable lessons on how to reduce food waste, save money and help the planet in the process. Launching on 3rd May, the Food Waste Challenge run by Food Waste Expert, Craig Benton will take place over 4 weeks. The challenge will consist of weekly activities and 4 x Zoom meetings every Tuesday at 7pm from 3rd to 24th May, with a focus on the following key areas: Week 1: Getting an understanding of what food you waste and why Week 2: Planning and Shopping routines to avoid food waste Week 3: Storage, Serving & Reuse tips to reduce food waste Week 4: Reviewing Sign up for The Climate Alarm Clocks, Food Waste Challenge for free at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-climate-alarm-clock-food-waste-challenge-tickets-311484868627 Practical Tips to reduce food waste at home: 1. Note what you’re throwing out This is a small action that can make a huge difference. Maybe you buy lots of fruit and veg with the intention of eating healthily but never get through it all. Maybe there’s mould on the last few slices of bread before you get through the whole loaf. Pay a bit more attention to what’s being binned and see if there are some quick fixes you can make. 2. Shop Smarter Check your fridge and your cupboards to see what you already have before leaving the house, make a list and stick to it! It’s all well and good until you get to the supermarket and there are special offers and tempting treats, but ultimately just buying what you need stops a lot of food from going in the bin. 3. Cooking and Serving Being more flexible in your cooking and making meals that use up what you already have in the kitchen can reduce food waste. How you serve food also makes a big difference. Letting people serve themselves means they’re more likely to just take what they’ll eat and you’re more likely to reuse the leftovers. 4. Freeze it If you find yourself frequently throwing away bread with mould or leftovers that have been sitting in the fridge for a week, start popping them in the freezer when they’re still fresh and defrost them when needed. Buying frozen vegetables can also be a good idea if fresh ones are regularly going bad before you can use them. 5. Pro Tips If you already follow most of these tips and are looking for more of a challenge, why not consider reducing your meat consumption or work on eating more seasonally and locally. While meat products make up less than 10% of wasted food, they are responsible for over half of the emissions associated with food waste. Buying seasonal, local food means you’re cutting out most of the emissions required to transport your food and you’re supporting the local economy at the same time.
The Climate Alarm Clock is a weekly Irish climate news podcast, featuring the week's climate news, interviews with experts and science and policy explainers. Find it where you find your podcasts.
Slán go fóill,
Danny