Food Waste
A Plan to Reduce Food Waste
This Project Drawdown report finds that in countries where income is low, food waste is often unintentional, and occurs during storage or distribution. In higher income regions, food is wasted by retailers and consumers. Their plan for reducing food waste has the ability to increase food security in poor regions, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from food production.
Food Waste and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The EPA estimates 8% of greenhouse gas emissions come from wasted food that winds up in landfills. Watch this 8-minute PBS video to learn how and why food is wasted, and what you can do to mitigate the problem.
How Food Waste Affects the Environment
This Earth.org primer on food waste is a quick read on how food we throw away contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, degrades the land, and harms biodiversity.
How To Stop Throwing Out Good Food
Sisters Margaret and Irene Li (Michelin star-winner) have written what is perhaps the most useful cookbook ever. The narrative convinces readers why wasting food is a problem, and the recipes provide solutions. An accompanying website allows you to enter whichever food you have in your fridge that’s on the verge of being thrown out – and provides a recipe to “save” it. Deliciously.
The Global Benefits of Reducing Food Waste, and How to Do It
This World Resources Institute report details how reducing food waste can generate benefits to economies, human health, and the environment. Additionally, it can play a major role in providing healthy diets to populations in emerging countries that face food insecurity.
Why You Should Compost
Waste that winds up in U.S. landfills is the third largest source of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Watch this 3-minute video to learn how and why you should compost, rather than throw unused food scraps in the trash.