Unfortunately, in today’s world food waste has become the norm. From over-production to overconsumption, households across the globe significantly contribute to wastage. 

At DASH Water, we want to have a more positive impact on the environment and work to help reduce food waste. 

To us, knowledge is power. That’s why we’ve popped together the top ten food waste facts to provide an illustrative view of how this affects the planet we love.

One-third of all food produce is lost or wasted a year

That’s 931 million tonnes of food wasted each year! Whether it’s out of date, doesn’t meet industry standards or is simply just discarded, globally we waste 33% of the food we produce.

2.5 million tonnes of food is wasted from our homes every year

With increased overconsumption, excessive buying habits lead to excessive waste. Something to consider next time you’re filling up the trolley during your supermarket shop. 

70% of the food we bin is still perfectly edible

Before opting to throw away any food, ask yourself if there are any other ways you can utilise the food. In some cases, why not see where you can donate your unwanted food to those less fortunate, so we can reduce waste and hunger at the same time.

Saving a quarter of our wasted food would feed the world’s hungry

That leads us to this shocking fact: 25% of the food wasted is enough to feed those around us who do not have access to proper nutrition. This illustrates perfectly the human need to reduce our waste.

10% of greenhouse gas emissions come from food produced but not eaten

Whilst wasted food may not get eaten, it has still taken time, energy and resources to be produced. 10% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the food which is produced but wasted - a staggering figure for food that isn’t even enjoyed!

If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases

Stacking up against its global counterparts, food waste would rank third in the globe for emitting greenhouse gases. Thinking of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by countries around the world, this is a staggering figure.

25% of the world’s water supply is used to grow food that is never eaten

Besides transportation and energy, water is also significantly utilised to grow food, even that which isn’t eaten! Wasting food ultimately means wasting more of the world’s water resources which are becoming more and more valuable as climate change continues.

Throwing away one burger wastes the same amount of water as a 90-minute shower

Plus, it’s not just plant-based foods which need water during production. All wasted food will be a waste of the environment’s resources and needs to be considered much more carefully.

Reducing food waste is the third most effective way to address climate change

It’s not all gloom and doom! It’s a fact that putting more effort into reducing the amount of food wasted is an effective way to positively affect the environment and bring climate change to a halt.

Every person can play a part in reducing food waste

Yes, that means everyone. Whether it’s taking more consideration whilst you shop and only buying what you need or finding new, exciting ways to use up your food instead of wasting it, you can help reduce food waste and have a positive impact on our home planet.

When there’s such a significant impact on the planet, food waste facts can be eye opening. It may seem harmless to chuck the odd uneaten item into the rubbish bin here and there, but if we do this on a large scale, the figures add up to a scary number.

But, now you know more about the effects of food waste on the environment, so let us show you the part you can play in reducing your food waste and play your part in addressing climate change. You can also find out what we’re doing here at Dash Water.