Earth Day was first celebrated in the U.S on April 22, 1970. Eventually, two decades later it became global and environmental leaders from all around the world joined together to mobilize millions of people to raise awareness for various environmental issues. This article will go into the environmental impact of food waste and overall sustianibility. The purpose of this article is to boost information written by environmental experts; the information in this article is taken directly from earthday.org and all links will be provided at the end of the article. Understanding the impact of our choices surrounding food is a great starting place to make the necessary changes needed to aid the climate crisis.
Why is understanding our current food systems important? According to earthday.org, our current food systems are not sustainable and are largely at fault in aiding the deterioration of our planet. It has been projected that if we continue with our current food systems that we will not be able to feed the over 9 billion people inhabiting Earth by the year 2050. The term ‘food waste’ refers to the amount of quality food that is not consumed by large retailers or by the average consumer. “Globally, if food waste could be represented as its own country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter, behind China and the US'' – United Nations Environment. According to the US Department of Agriculture, food waste is estimated at between 30-40% of the food supply. That’s approximately 133 billion pounds of food, a total monetary loss estimated at $161.6 billion, and an estimated 141 trillion calories per year, or 1,249 calories per capita per day, in the food supply (based on 2010 numbers). The FAO estimates that food loss and waste account for 8.2 percent of the total human-made greenhouse gas emissions. When we toss still-edible food into the trash, it ends up in landfills, where it generates methane, and according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 34% of all methane emissions in the US come from landfills. (earthday.org)
I first learned about the impact of food waste and the importance of more sustainable food practices through social media (because isn’t that how we all get our information today?). When I first began to learn about this topic I recalled a time where I was volunteering for a company in highschool with my friends. The three of us would spend much time at the cafeteria and would eventually help the staff clean up by day’s end. It surprised all three of us when we were instructed to throw buckets after buckers of fresh, unconsumed food. We constantly questioned the staff as to why the food could not be donated for better use or to people who could benefit from it. After learning about liability issues, I thought that there has to be a better solution. While a new California law, which took effect in January, mandates that national retailers such as Amazon.com Inc and small grocery and convenience stores donate unsold food in an attempt to redirect edible food from reaching landfills, the attempt has not been perfect and there’s still much work to be done. On a more personal level, as individuals we can also play a part in preventing food waste. While I admit I am not perfect - I am learning everyday on how I can make smarter, healthier choices on food consumption and sustainable practices. Included below are 3 food influencers that are very active on social media in regards to creating conversations on sustainability and preventing food waste through their yummy recipies:
1. Priyanka Nair
@chefpriyanka
2. Todd Anderson
@turnipvegan
3. Carleigh Bodrug
@plantyou
I've loved following recipies created by these three influencers and learning about sustainable practices in the kitchen! Realizing the impact of our every-day practice though seemingly insignifcant can make a huge impact in the long-run. Remember, the Earth is what we all have in common! Let’s do our part.
With Love,
Jacqui
Links: