Food keeps us happy, refreshed and energised, but it can do the opposite for the world around us.
Over the past 50 years, greenhouse gas emissions from food waste have increased by 300%, making it the third largest emitter just behind the US and China.
That’s why we’ve created Respect Food: a programme which is all about reducing food waste and encouraging a sustainable and responsible attitude towards food. There are so many ways you can help to reduce food waste, and the benefits are even more far-reaching.
Here are 6 ways where being more careful with your food really does benefit the environment.
1. Stop feeding landfills
1.6 billion tons of wasted food is left in landfills every year. Methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas, is released when this food decomposes and rotting food isn’t good for local wildlife and ecosystems either. You can help to reduce this by making sure you discard waste in food bins rather than dumping it with the rest of the garbage. Fewer landfills mean more open spaces to enjoy, with more trees to breathe in cleaner air.