Consumer perception on food waste and carbon footprint

1.3 billion tons of food is lost or wasted globally each year. IntelliDigest recognises that to solve global food challenges we must all act now to deliver sustainable impacts for future generations. From farm to fork, we believe that solutions for the global food challenge can be delivered based on research including understanding the consumer perception food waste and carbon footprint

The University of Surrey has gathered a collection of data to understand and compare consumer food waste perceptions across the globe. Trends in data show that households with higher incomes typically waste more food due to overbuying, inefficient date management and the luxury of eating out leading to food spoilage. IntelliDigest recommends meal planning to combat this issue – households can write a list of essential food items to stop overbuying and this food should be stored in date rotation to avoid spoilage. Tackling the global food challenge starts with encouraging consumers to have sustainable behaviour patterns. Studies have found those passionate and educated about food waste often waste less food compared to uneducated households. Consumers often feel a sense of guilt when wasting food and that they have wasted money – however, consumers generally are open to changing their behavioural patterns.

At IntelliDigest we empower individuals to eliminate food waste and encourage households to freeze leftovers or use them in other delicious dishes, set monthly food budgets and understand dates on food packaging. For more information on how to eliminate food waste head over to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations http://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1309609/.

Food loss and waste uses up valuable resources, leading to carbon footprint greenhouse gases being released into the planet’s atmosphere and contributing to the climate change crisis. Studies stress the need for more awareness and education for consumers to understand the impact that food loss and waste has on carbon footprint. Consumers are generally unaware about how food wastage is linked to carbon footprint, with more action needed to educate consumers on how they can reduce their food-related carbon footprint. Studies suggest that consumers would welcome food packaging where carbon footprint information is included – IntelliDigest supports this to allow consumers to better understand the impact food has on the environment to allow consumers to make more healthy, sustainable choices in the future.

We believe that everyone needs to play their part to reduce food waste and carbon footprint to contribute to solving the global food challenge crisis. This enables us to meet the SDG Goals 2030 to have a world where production and consumption is sustainable, climate action is addressed and ending hunger. We must all act now to deliver sustainable impacts for future generations.