Millions of tonnes of food are wasted every year in the UK. Unlike plastic, food will biodegrade easily however it is still very harmful for the planet. This is because as it decays it produces methane which is an extremely harmful greenhouse gas for the environment as it is very efficient at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Food waste is still an area people struggle with and can be less conscious of compared to plastic waste but it is critical to reduce it.
Top Tips to Try
- Leave the skins on vegetables e.g. Butternut squash and don’t bother peeling ginger. That’s where they have a lot of nutrients e.g. potato skin is full of iron, but most people chuck it in the bin! (Zero Waste Scotland have a whole range of resources on their site like this to reduce food waste.)
- Have a go at regrowing food from food scraps. If you pop spring onion heads into water, they will grow back.
- Be adventurous with your cooking – online you’ll find a ton of food scrap recipes. Have a look in your waste bin and try to find a recipe that uses something in it so you don’t throw it out next time (Love Food Hate Waste also have recipes for using up your leftovers so nothing goes to waste)
Resources of the week:
The Olio app is great for sharing any food you don’t want with neighbours or saving food at its best before date from supermarkets.
This week’s task:
If you have the time planning your meals and snacks before you go shopping is game changing. By working out what you need for the week you don’t over shop for items that ultimately end up in the food bin. Have a look through your fridge and cupboards before you go then make a list of what you need.
What are you doing to reduce your impact?
Our Membership Officer, Vicki, has been getting creative while reducing her impact:
“I’ve been trying to be more sustainable with clothing and making do and mending rather than buying new. It saves water and power that would be used in the production of new items and saves my clothes ending up in landfill.”
Send me a wee email (picture optional but encouraged!) if you want to include something you are doing to be more eco conscious at work or at home in the next bulletin!
