How do you reduce food waste?

Making small changes in your daily routine can have a significant positive impact on both the environment and your own well-being. By minimising food waste, you'll not only save money but also contribute to a healthier planet.

Take a look at these ideas as a start for preventing, diverting and recovering food waste.

Vegetables in bag and woman with shopping list

Preventing food waste

  • Avoid bulk buying and make frequent grocery trips. Stick to your shopping list and use up existing food before purchasing more.

  • Prevent spoilage by learning proper storage methods for fruits and vegetables. Keep items like potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers, and onions at room temperature.

  • Embrace "ugly" produce and opt for slightly imperfect items at the store. Or sign up to one of the many new type produce box initiatives.

  • Organise your refrigerator, following the "first in, first out" (FIFO) method to ensure older items are used first.

  • Freeze excess produce and leftovers for convenient future use.

Preserved food in jars

Diverting food waste

  • Use techniques like pickling, canning, fermenting, and freezing to extend the shelf life of food items.

  • Composting food scraps is an eco-friendly way to recycle waste and enrich your garden soil.

  • Save seeds from pumpkins and squash to reduce waste while enjoying a nutritious snack.

food scraps on brown paper

Recovering food waste

  • Store leftovers in transparent containers to avoid forgetting about them. Dedicate a day to use up accumulated leftovers.

  • Repurpose vegetable scraps and meat bones to create flavorful homemade stocks.

  • Enhance the flavor of water by infusing it with citrus peels, herbs, and fruit tops.

  • Create natural beauty treatments using food scraps, such as avocado face masks and coffee body scrubs.