What Does Food Waste Have to Do with the Environment?
“When wasted food ends up in landfills (as much of it does), it releases methane, the most powerful greenhouse gas. Reducing the food we waste is one of the most important ways we can build a more climate-resilient food system. We can also re-purpose excess food that would otherwise go to waste by feeding people in need or animals, or creating energy or compost to feed our soil.” – New Hampshire Food Alliance
“When you throw out food, you’re also wasting the energy used to grow, produce, package and transport it. Only buy what you need – and use what you buy. You can save money, reduce pollution, and help preserve resources for future generations.” – United Nations, Act Now
In the U.S., we throw away about 40% of our food!
Here’s a 3-minute video from the NRDC about food waste and what you can personally do about it. For a bit of a deeper dive, watch this 10-minute video “Food Waste Causes Climate Change” from the United Nations.
The Rain Forest Alliance puts reducing food waste at the top of their list for the top “5 Ways to Build Collective Climate Impact through Individual Actions.”
So what can you do? Check out the other tabs in this section to learn about actions you can take to reduce your food waste!
