As part of Food Waste Action Week 2023, the Students' Association will be posting tips to cut back on food waste and hosting a stall to hand out recipe packets on campus. Here is the low down on food waste, why it is important and some steps you can take in storing your food to help decrease food waste. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Producing food requires significant resources including land, energy and water. Globally, 25–30% of total food produced is lost or wasted, and food waste is estimated to contribute 8-10% of total man-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

UK households and businesses throw away 9.5 million tons of food a year. The greenhouse gases associated with this wasted food is 25 million tons. That is equivalent to the emissions of 10 million cars (or 1 in 3 cars on UK roads)! (source: WRAP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Of the 9.5 MILLION TONS of food that the UK throws away every year, 6.4 MILLION TONS could have been eaten by people. That is enough wasted food to feed the WHOLE UK 3 meals a day for almost 3 months! Not only is it wasted food but it also wasted money! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Storing Food Tips:

Bought a whole loaf but won't use it all before it goes off? Pop some of it into the freezer.

Speaking about freezing food, did you know most medium and hard cheeses can be frozen until needed? If it is already grated, you can add it straight from the freezer to your cooking

Bread dead? If it is just stale, store it in a resealable container and bash it up (or use a food processor) next time you need bread crumbs for meatballs or on top of mac and cheese 

Potatoes should be stored in cool, dark places. To keep them from sprouting, store them with an apple. Don't worry if they do sprout though, remove the eyes/sprouts and they are still edible. 

 

 

Decreasing food waste is one of the ways that students can help create change in the SOS-UK sustainable food guide. Find out more ways here.