Today, September 29th, is the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
A date decreed in 2020 by the UN, to alert to the impact of this problem and the urgency in terms of sustainability, which is reflected in its inclusion in the purposes of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 12.3), with the goal of reducing by at least 50 % food waste by 2030 at the retail and consumer level, as well as food losses throughout the agri-food chain.
This claim is supported by the European Union, which included it in the “Circular Economy” package and in the Strategy to reduce food losses and waste.
It is estimated that 89 million tons of food are wasted annually worldwide, corresponding to about 20% of the food produced, or representing about 179 kg per capita.
Tips for fighting food waste:
– Before going shopping, plan your meals and the products you are going to buy;
– Avoid shopping when you are hungry or in a hurry;
– Freeze surplus ready-to-eat food;
– At the restaurant, take home whatever is left of the ordered dose;
– Organize the pantry and refrigerator, by expiration date;
– If you have a small production of fruits and vegetables, offer the leftover products;
– If you have a backyard or garden, try composting at home.
