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Chuck Out Less

We may grumble about the amount of packaging that ends up in our bins but the reality is that we chuck out far more food. Roughly 30% of all household waste is made up of uneaten or wasted food - that’s about £20 million worth or about 10 million tonnes each year that ends up in landfill. Add to that the cost, both environmentally and financially, of transporting and disposing of it and you’re talking about an awful lot of unnecessary wastage. The humble lettuce is the most forsaken with 61% of British households throwing one away each week, often unwrapped.

Part of the problem is inadequate labelling. There is a lot of confusion and inconsistency in the different types of 'use-by', 'sell-by' and 'best before' labels on our food products. And usually these dates are at best vague estimates. Yet because of fears of food poisoning we will often err on the side of caution.

One solution is to follow France’s example of using smart labels called time-temperature indicators that actually monitor the ambient conditions of the food and give a clear indication of when the food has turned. Another is to ensure the food is stored properly as soon as you get home. When it comes to breaking the 'cold chain' of food storage it is usually the consumer who is the worst offender; letting food sit around too long before putting it in the fridge is an oversight that can massively effect how fast the food turns. The other solution is to avoid big shopping trips and simply buy food as you need it. Not always practical when shopping for a hungry family, but the environment and your purse may thank you.