The Real Deal on Food Waste

Food waste is an issue that affects so many throughout the world, including individuals, habitats, communities, and the planet itself. At a global level, it is estimated that roughly a third of the food produced globally is wasted yearly, or 1.3 billion tons of food suitable for human consumption. In the United States alone, over 108 billion pounds of food is wasted yearly, worth over $400 billion. In addition to the financial implications that have been measured, food waste has become a significant contributor to climate change and environmental degradation, forcing it to become a topic that has taken front and center stage in recent years. With all of this in mind, you may be wondering what role you play in this vicious cycle and what you can do to make a difference in your own life to help lessen food waste. Not to worry; we’re here to help. Today, we wanted to discuss what food waste is, how it impacts each of us, and what we can do individually to help reduce food waste within our homes and daily diets.

What is Food Waste

As we dive into food waste, it’s important to clarify exactly what it is. According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, food waste refers to food that is fit for consumption but is consciously discarded at the retail or consumption phases. It’s important to note that this is different from food “loss,” or what occurs before the food reaches the consumer due to production, storage, processing, and distribution issues.

There are many reasons why food waste occurs. For example, much of the food thrown away begins at the farm before reaching your table. According to UC Davis, weather, pests, disease, low market prices, or even high labor costs can lead to food waste, even though the produce may be perfect for human consumption. Additionally, it is noted that the standards that food is held up to can also impact the amount being thrown away, characteristics including being the incorrect shape, size, color, or maturity, even if the produce itself is perfectly good to eat.

Regarding food waste at a consumer level, UC Davis notes that supermarkets, restaurants, and consumers are responsible for most food waste in the United States and other developed countries. Most of the wasted food comes from perishable food or food that goes bad quickly and can include baked goods, produce, meat, seafood, and prepared meals. Additionally, when it comes to produce, the USDA estimates that supermarkets lose $15 billion in unsold fruit and vegetables alone!

How Does Food Waste Impact Us

Now that we know what food waste is, how does it impact us individually? The lasting effects of food waste are more than you think. First and foremost, food waste affects us financially; the average family of four spends roughly $1,300 yearly on food that gets wasted - that’s quite a bit of money! William & Mary notes that a study they conducted found that, on average, Americans spent more per year on wasted food than many other costs, like clothes, gas, utilities for their home, and more. 

Another impact may not affect us individually, per se, but rather at a community level. So many individuals and families within our local communities face food insecurity or the lack of consistent access to enough food for every person within a home to live an active and healthy life. According to Feeding America, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, experience food insecurity within the United States (almost the number of people living in California!). When thinking about this topic, there is an immense amount of food that consumers, grocery stores, restaurants, and other food-related retailers throw out that could help end food insecurity for those within our communities. While the true solution to this issue is somewhat out of our control at an individual level, there are several ways to lower food waste within our daily lives to help make a difference that will go far and beyond.

How Lowering Food Waste Can Benefit You

You may now wonder how lowering your food waste can make a difference both within your own life and on a scale that positively impacts others. Well, you may not realize it now, but becoming more cognizant about the food you throw out can help you do your part for your community, for your planet, and your wallet as well! 

For example, as we mentioned earlier, throwing food out regularly costs quite a bit by the end of the year - around $1,300! So, instead of buying things at the grocery store you probably won’t be using up quickly, choose foods you’re more likely to finish all the way through. These decisions can help you, in return, save money in the long run that you’ll notice will add up quite quickly. There are many ways to ensure you’ll be using what you buy, including buying smaller items, making grocery lists before you head to the store, and finding creative ways to use leftovers before they expire. Additionally, if you find you have food cans or non-perishable items you haven’t yet opened but aren’t sure if you’re going to finish, find yourself a local food bank or place that will take unopened cans and other food items to feed to those in need.

Another benefit you’ll notice as you lower your food waste is it will help you lower your overall carbon footprint. If you’re unfamiliar, the carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) generated by our actions. On average, the carbon footprint of a single person in the United States is 16 tons, caused by the single-use plastics we use, our meat and dairy consumption, our energy use, and, you guessed it - food waste. The USDA notes that food waste and loss each year, all together, equals the annual CO2 emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants!

To put it in perspective regarding global warming, according to Nature, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop to under 2 tons by 2050 to avoid a 2-degree celsius increase in global temperatures. While that doesn’t seem like a lot, 2 degrees celsius can lead to extreme heat, loss of habitat for both animals and humans globally, loss of food, and so much more. If you’re looking for ways to help your environmental impact, we recommend considering your carbon footprint and implementing practices within your life to help lower this over time.

Interestingly enough, our carbon footprint and food waste go hand in hand, and as we mentioned earlier, there are a variety of ways to help reduce your carbon footprint while also limiting your food waste. Whether you choose to take fewer trips to the grocery store, buy only the food you need for your home, buy products with less packaging, or even donate your uneaten food to your local food bank or shelter, taking small steps within your life to lower your food waste can make all the difference when helping improve your environmental impact as well.