Linda Madigan, Nordic Market Manager, Bord Bia - The Irish food Board
One-third of all food produced in the world – approximately 1.3 billion tonnes – is lost or wasted every year. Globally, if food waste could be represented as its own country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter. Goal 12 of the US Sustainability Goals deals with responsible consumption and production. The UN Agenda 2030 has set a target to half the food waste by 2030 per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
The Swedish Government’s food waste target for 2020 is to use 50 per cent of food waste as natural fertiliser, with another 40 per cent being used to generate energy. An initiative called the 25/25 target, sets out by 2025, food and residual waste should decrease by 25 per cent, compared with 2015 targets.
According to the European parliament, in order to prevent food waste, member states should provide incentives for the collection of unsold food products and their safe redistribution. Consumer awareness of the meaning of “use by” and “best before” label dates should also be improved.
Karma is an example of a Swedish start up founded in Stockholm, November 2016. The app connects surplus food from restaurants, cafes and grocery stores to consumers for a lower price. As a result, users eat great food for less and businesses receive an additional revenue stream — all while reducing food waste.
Wasting food is not only an ethical and economic issue but it also depletes the environment of limited natural resources. By reducing food losses and waste to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals. According to Bord Bia’s consumer and lifestyle trends 2019, Responsible living has been identified and a sub trend of this is innovating against waste. Consumers need to be nudged towards more responsible consumption, here are some tips for reducing Food Waste from the European Commission.
EPA Ireland will host a Food Waste forum on 10th July in Dublin. The Forum will bring together businesses along the supply chain to provide national & international perspectives on the issues in relation to food loss & waste in Ireland.
References:
Bord Bia Consumer and Lifestyle Trends 2019
Waste Sweden https://www.avfallsverige.se