Every day, in kitchens all around the world, food is being wasted. It could be half an avocado turning brown in the fridge, a slice of bread that’s gone stale, or some leftovers that were never finished. While that might not seem like much, the amount of food we waste is pretty wild when you add it all up.
Here at HelloFresh, we know all about the impact of this waste on our environment, and we're committed to making a difference. As the world's #1 Meal Kit, we're not just about delivering mouth-watering meals to your doorstep. We're also here to reduce food waste and help others do the same.
Let’s take a deeper look at food waste and discuss some of the different ways you can do your part to help reduce it.
When we talk about climate change, the usual suspects are fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial pollution. But did you know that food waste is also a huge contributor?Whenever food ends up in landfills, it decomposes, rots, and releases methane. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these greenhouse gas emissions are 28 times more effective at trapping heat in our atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
But the environmental impact isn't just about what happens when food is wasted. It’s also about the resources that go into food production.
Think about the water used to irrigate crops, the fuel used to transport goods, and the energy to refrigerate and cook food. When we waste food, we're also wasting these precious resources.
Food waste happens at every stage of the supply chain, but it's super high at the consumer level. Whether overbuying at the grocery store or letting food go bad at home, these habits can create food waste from start to finish.
Part of the problem is that it's way too easy to underestimate the amount of food we waste. A bit of wilted lettuce here and an overripe banana there doesn’t really sound like much food loss. But when you look at the bigger picture, the scale of food waste is remarkable.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), American consumers are responsible for wasting between30 to 40 percent of the food supply each year. That winds up being close to 120 billion pounds (60 million tons) of wasted food!
With today’s food prices, that’s roughly $218 billion worth of food $ (about 130 billion meals) that ends up in a landfill.
One of the easiest ways to reduce food waste is to carefully plan your meals. Instead of going to the grocery store and purchasing foods on a whim, plan your meals ahead and only buy foods you know you’ll eat.
By knowing exactly what you need for each meal, you can buy less food, save more money, and reduce the risk of food going bad before you get a chance to use it.
Food waste is a global issue, and it's something that we all have a role in tackling. HelloFresh reduces food waste with precisely portioned ingredients, benefiting both the planet and your wallet. In a recent study, 1,400 participants measured daily waste types over two weeks, including leftovers and unused ingredients. Participants reported a 70% decrease in scraps during food preparation when cooking HelloFresh meals compared to their usual routines.
With our pre-portioned ingredients and efficient supply chain, we're helping to reduce food waste and support our planet.