Are they long past sell-by date? The answer seems to be staring us in the face...
In the past, food was almost entirely produced locally and food waste was almost a non-existing problem. Clothes, furniture etc. were more often repaired - recycling was more common since people were poorer. Today, some valuable skills that previously seemed outdated, such as making thatched roofs (mostly in Northern Europe and Asia), are appreciated, not least from an environmental point of view.
Recognizing that food production and transportation are major sources of air pollution today, the situation turns even more insane... A FAO report from 2011 holds that the total food waste by consumers in the industrialized countries was 222 million tons... Grocery stores in these countries often dump huge amounts of food waste every day... According to a NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) report from 2012, Americans threw away around 40 percent of the food... Evidently, they are by no means alone.
In 2012, the European Parliament adopted a resolution to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2020 and designated 2014 as the "European year against food waste." Hoping for the best seems futile, facing an avoidable, large-scale problem...
A triple bottom line solution may be needed in several countries, requiring collaborative efforts by businesses, governments and consumers. An extensive U.K. public awareness campaign has been conducted over the past five years. 53 of the leading food retailers/brands have adopted a resolution to reduce their waste, upstream and downstream in the supply chain. In five years, household food waste in the United Kingdom has been reduced by 18 percent. Results..!
In 2012, the European Parliament adopted a resolution to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2020 and designated 2014 as the "European year against food waste." Hoping for the best seems futile, facing an avoidable, large-scale problem...
A triple bottom line solution may be needed in several countries, requiring collaborative efforts by businesses, governments and consumers. An extensive U.K. public awareness campaign has been conducted over the past five years. 53 of the leading food retailers/brands have adopted a resolution to reduce their waste, upstream and downstream in the supply chain. In five years, household food waste in the United Kingdom has been reduced by 18 percent. Results..!
