You Waste More Food Than Food Manufacturers!
Shocking news from researchers – we waste more food than food manufacturing corporations! Just pause and read this sentence again. And no, it is not an exaggeration.
Consumer food waste carries the highest environmental impact compared to losses in food production, transport, distribution and sales, and it is no longer a problem faced by the reacher countries alone.
How can you reduce your food waste at home? The scientifically backed up answer might come from more research to identify which communication and marketing initiatives work better to decrease waste.
In a paper published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, Dr Gustavo Porpino, from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) looks at solutions and a framework for conducting future research on this global issue of “remarkable social and environmental relevance”, reports Science Daily.
Porpino analyzed previous research findings from 24 peer-reviewed papers, and empirical data from a study conducted in households in the US and Brazil. He concluded that additional studies aimed at testing the impact of communication initiatives on behavioral change are needed. Also, a standardized methodology to measure consumer food waste is necessary. These paths for further research would benefit public policies aimed at increasing the awareness of food waste, and would contribute to more effective nutritional education initiatives since messages could be framed based on insights tested in scientific studies.
Clearly, food waste is only one household waste problem. So it is so important now more than ever to take care of our environment. It is apparent that if we don’t start taking responsibility for our actions in regard to the planet, that we may have to worry about not having a planet to live on in the future. It may not be something that we witness in our lifetime, but if we aren’t careful, our children’s children will have to pay for our mistakes.
We now have the knowledge that we need to make sure that things start heading in the right direction and we can start to improve our planet instead of destroy it. Here is what you can do right now to become an eco-warrior. It will start with your habits at home.
1. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
We have been told to do these three things since we were little. We need to be conscious of recycling the things that we are able to recycle including plastic, paper, and glass. You can even make a little money doing this by recycling soda cans, soda bottles, and glass containers that have the five cent deposit included. We can reuse things as well. When you are done with the butter container, don’t throw it away. It can become a great container to store that leftover pasta for the next day. It can be washed and reused just like your other Tupperware containers. You can choose to purchase reusable resources like reusable batteries or other reusable products to save on waste.
2. Purchase products that are made from recycled materials
There are a lot of products that you can buy that are made from recyclable materials including paper towels, cardboard boxes, plastic products, etc. you can choose to buy products that are made out of recycled materials to promote the use of recyclable products.
3. Larger things to recycle that are used in many places
When you recycle some larger things like your old mattress, the old pieces can be used in many different things. For example, the foam is ground up to make carpet padding, the cotton can be used in a lot of other products, the steel can be recycled to make many other steel products, and the wood can be chipped down for mulch. When you are searching for mattresses online, you should consider their environmental policy and initiatives.. What steps is the business taking to reduce their impact on the environment? This should guide your purchase decision.
4. Use a compost pile
You can create a compost in your backyard. It is one of the easiest ways to get rid of organic waste. You can create a small compost to take care of the things that will break down in the soil and this is a great way to get rid of it without throwing it in the trash. You can even create a cute box out of a wooden crate that you decorate to match your décor to make it beautiful and useful.
You have a responsibility to the environment and you will find that every little bit makes a difference. It starts with you and your family. Make it a habit to recycle as much as you can. Reuse the containers, recycle that old mattress when it starts to lose its firmness. You have what it takes to be a part of something that is larger than you. Be an eco-warrior and make a real difference.
Recycling is a great way to make the most out of our resources. When our used goods go to the dump, they just take up space. When they go to the recycling plant, they turn into something usable. It can make a huge difference and will lead to a stronger and healthier environment.
About the Author Jess Nielsen
Jess has spent years travelling the world full-time. Nothing else comes close to the reaches of this emotive activity...