It is estimated that our ever-expanding global population wastes about 1.3 billion tons of food every year. That’s a disturbing amount of natural resources when you really think about it, and more than enough to feed the estimated 900 million people around the globe who regularly go without enough food.
The United Nations has recently launched Think, Eat, Save, a new campaign designed to help reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfills every year. The campaign offers up helpful tips for both consumers and retailers, and is working toward becoming the go-to source for the latest projects and efforts made to reduce global food waste.
“In a world of seven billion people, set to grow to nine billion by 2050, wasting food makes no sense – economically, environmentally, and ethically,†says Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director. “To bring about the vision of a truly sustainable world, we need a transformation in the way we produce and consume our natural resources.â€
Some of the tips for reducing individual food waste include taking advantage of your freezer when you buy in bulk, request smaller portions at restaurants, start a composting bin, and make a point to eat all the produce already in your refrigerator before buying more. It’s all painfully obvious, really, and disappointing to think that so many of us need to be reminded of this on a regular basis.
Do you think you waste a lot of food? What kind of steps do you take to minimize your food waste?
Image CC licensed by jbloom
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