Globally, up to a third of all food produced goes to waste. Reducing your food waste is one of the most effective environmental actions you can take.

When we think about our own food waste, we might picture the contents of a kitchen caddy being added to the brown bin and taken away by the bin collectors every other week.

But it takes a lot of resources to put food on our tables in the first place.

From ‘farm to fork’, the growing, processing and transportation of food uses a huge amount of resources and energy. Unfortunately, much of the food produced across the world today is not done so sustainably and can contribute to deforestation, reduction in biodiversity and the creation of pollution.

That means that every item of wasted food also carries the environmental weight of those wasted resources as well.

Contribution to the Climate Crisis

  • Food waste accounts for up to 10% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, largely because of the huge amount of land, water and energy involved in its production.
  • Over 1.4 billion hectares of land is used to produce food that goes to waste – that’s 28% of the world’s agricultural area and the equivalent of 200 Irelands.
  • In Ireland alone, we generate over 1 million tonnes of food waste each year and a third of that happens in our homes.

As a nation, we have set a goal to cut our climate emissions in half by 2030. Meeting this target will require everyone to work together – from farmers and food producers to businesses to each and every one of us in our own homes.

Find out more about Food Waste and Climate Change.

Small Changes, Big Impact

The good news is that by taking small actions to reduce our own food waste, we can all make a real difference. Here are our tips to make a change:

  • Know your own waste – Being aware of how much food – and what kind of foods – you waste most is your first step to understanding how you can waste less.
  • Top Tip: Consider recording what food goes to waste in your home for a week.
  • Eat local and seasonal food – including more locally grown and seasonal foods in your diet will benefit you, your community and our environment. These products are often fresher with a smaller environmental footprint as they use less energy and resources through transit and storage.
  • Top Tip: Find out what’s in season.
  • Create smarter habits – Browse our website for clever tips connected to how you shop, store and cook food in your own home. The good news is that reducing food waste could save you a considerable amount of money – the average household in Ireland wastes up to €700 per year in food that gets thrown out.