food waste

Overview

“Cutting food waste is a delicious way of saving money, helping to feed the world, and protecting the planet.” — Tristram Stuart, UK based author, speaker, expert, and campaigner on environmental and social impacts of food

Humans are great at consuming food; however, we’re even better at wasting it. Globally, we throw away 1.4 billion tons of food every year. Meanwhile, 957 million people around the world experience hunger. Food intersects with environmental issues and social injustices, while hunger transcends borders, backgrounds and identities. As of 2022, nearly 50 million Americans are expected to be experiencing a lack of food, increasing drastically from 35 million in 2021. 

Food waste has enormous environmental consequences. On average, Americans waste 30 to 40% of the total food produced every year, which is higher than any other country. One reason for this alarming number is that people often throw out perfectly good food. Tossed food ends up in landfills and emits large amounts of methane as it breaks down, which is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO₂! In fact, methane has more than 80 times the warming power of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Also wasted are the hours of labor spent to produce the food and resources like water, oil, energy, and money used to grow, process, package, and transport goods. Wasting food wastes everything that went into making it.

On the flip side of this issue is the fact that millions of people around the world go without adequate food access and lack food security. Each year, 72 billion pounds of food that could feed the hungry goes to waste in the United States alone. Food insecurity disproportionately affects rural, Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. This is often a result of food apartheid and food deserts, which are areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Systemic racism, including practices like redlining and gentrification, influences who has access to abundant healthy food. 

Many individuals, groups, and organizations are combating the gap between food waste and food access. Some companies fight food waste by “upcycling” food that would normally be wasted. Nearly one-third of food grown in the US is thrown out because the produce doesn’t fit a standard size, color or shape. However, the vast majority of these foods are still good to eat! Companies like Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods sell these foods at a lower rate to redirect them from landfill. 

Different figures are rising to lead the charge. U-Konserve provides reusable and zero waste food storage options that help consumers eat well and reduce food waste. Foodprint educates about the benefits of sustainable food production, and helps us elevate our voices to make positive change in the food system and beyond. Food Tank raises consumer and institutional awareness to inform and propose actionable steps for people to reduce food waste and heal our broken food system. 

You can challenge injustices in our food system and pressure larger systems to change. One place to start is your own eating and buying habits. What foods go bad in your fridge before you eat them? How often are you a member of the Clean Plate Club? Create a Social Justice Diet by learning about the history of our lands and food systems, and how they continue to discriminate against specific groups of people. When you do need to toss food, always compost instead of sending organic material to landfill. 

Everyone has a right to nourishing food and to define, safeguard, and control their own food systems. We must continue to fight until we all have consistent, secure access to good, healthy food.