Tackle food waste to save time and money

People in Scotland urged to tackle food waste to save themselves time and money

• Zero Waste Scotland is encouraging people to consider how much food they throw away as the nation approaches European Week for Waste Reduction – an annual week of action on waste reduction.
• Scots could save up to £1k and get 2.5 days a year back simply by making the most of food – making tackling food waste a top tool for busy people who want to live more sustainably.
• A new online tool from Zero Waste Scotland can help householders reduce food waste and curb their contribution to the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of food we throw away from our homes each year.
• European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) falls on 16th to 24th November 2024. The annual campaign raises awareness and celebrates success when it comes to reducing waste in our homes and communities – and the theme this year is food waste. 

People in Scotland are being encouraged to focus on food waste to maximise their time and budget, as well as protect the environment.

According to recent research, the average UK family of four stands to save £1,000 a year simply by wasting less food, and could claw back 2.5 days a year by making the most of the food that they buy. That’s a long weekend!

What’s more, with 59% of Scotland’s food waste coming from households, small changes we make at home can have a big impact – and a new digital tool from Zero Waste Scotland is making it easier for busy Scots to do our bit.

The Reducing Food Waste at Home bitesize course is available for free on the Zero Waste Scotland website, and is designed to give users a comprehensive understanding of food waste, why it matters, and hacks on how to reduce food waste at home, in as little as 15 mins.

The online course consists of five sections, each focusing on a different aspect of food waste, and culminating in an interactive quiz. Users who complete the course can choose to sign up to three further email communications with more tips and advice on reducing food waste.

TV chef and Love Food Hate Waste Scotland supporter Julie Lin is a vocal advocate of the new tool as a means to help the people of Scotland gen up and take action on food waste.

TV chef and restaurateur, Julie Lin said:  

“Wasting food is something I strive to avoid in every aspect of my life, and it absolutely shocked me that households in Scotland account for 59% of all of the food we waste.

“It can feel overwhelming to think about food waste as one huge thing to overcome, but in reality all it requires is small daily changes that will amount to bigger, positive changes for the planet.

“The Reducing Food Waste at Home bitesize course is an amazing place to start for a 15-minute, digestible education on the basics of food waste, storage and preservation, as well as tips on how to save yourself time and money.” 

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: 

“Food is so important to our way of life – but the very fact that household food waste persists shows there’s a disconnect between the value we attach to food and how we behave towards it. Ultimately, we throw away too much good food. 

“The good news is we know people want to do something about it, and with most food waste coming from our homes, empowering families and individuals to tackle it can make a real difference.

“The Reducing Food Waste at Home bitesize course can help everyone in Scotland reap the benefits of food waste reduction and be part of Scotland’s journey towards a fairer and more sustainable future.”

To start the Reducing Food Waste at Home bitesize course, or to find out more about reducing food waste, visit the Zero Waste Scotland website.

ENDS

Editor’s Notes:

Reducing Food Waste at Home bitesize course long link for print: zerowastescotland.org.uk/resources/bitesize-food-waste-course 

Why is food waste so bad for the environment?    
  
Food waste is disproportionately bad for the environment, with even a relatively small amount responsible for a large volume of greenhouse gas emissions. Recent Zero Waste Scotland research also points to household food waste as one of the biggest drivers of other environmental damage too, like global biodiversity loss. 
 
It’s because when we waste food we also waste all the effort and resources that went into producing it – which includes any environmental impacts, like greenhouse gases, water consumption and air pollution, that happened during production. 

While better than disposing of it to landfill or incineration, the process of recycling food waste also generates carbon emissions which are harmful to the environment. That’s why avoiding wasting food altogether is the best thing we can all do to protect the planet and make the most of the food we love. 
 

About Zero Waste Scotland

Zero Waste Scotland are Scotland’s circular economy public body, working with government, business, and communities to rewire the economy from our current “take, make, waste” model to one where we make the most of the materials we have. A zero waste, circular economy is the right choice - for people, planet and prosperity.

Since 2014, our work has helped more people understand that the answer to the climate emergency is to consume less. Through an expansive range of projects and programmes, our innovative work has shown that embedding circular practices is as possible as it is essential.  

You can also keep up to date with the latest from Zero Waste Scotland via our social media channels -

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram