Food waste is estimated at between 30-40 % of the food supply. From an economic, environmental and social standpoint, keeping food out of landfills is imperative. We waste 40% of the food we buy each year while 1 in 7 Americans go hungry, and the global agriculture industry emits 1/3 of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. American food production costs 10% of the nation’s total energy budget, 50% of its land, and 80% of all the US’s freshwater consumption is dedicated to the production and distribution of food. Americans throw out $218 billion of food annually. That’s more than enough food to feed the 42 million Americans who are food insecure every year. Food waste goes straight to landfills, producing harmful greenhouse gasses, impacting the environment both directly and indirectly as all the resources, like water, labor, and energy, used to grow, produce, and transport that food also ends up wasted.
Objectives of this worksheet:
To create a strategic plan to reduce my water and food waste and reduce my groceries expenses
To learn what action I can take to reduce my water and food waste
To contribute to my community by reducing waste
To become an agent of change in my family, parish, and working environment