Food Waste Prevention – Outside2Inside

How can we reduce Food Waste in our Community?

Why does it take a village to raise a child? Because a critical aspect of human development is our environment. Not just the people in our environment, but the institutions they create and run. It’s important that these establishments demonstrate the behaviors we are expected to display in society. For example, seeing compost bins in restaurants encouraged me to get my own for my home. Societal norms are frequently reinforced or even started by our community organizations and companies. So, if we want to reduce food waste, we need our village (or community) to set the example.

Here are some impactful ways owners of our community establishments can reinforce the importance of reducing food waste:

“Skip a Side” initiative. Quite often combo meals come with additional food that’s undesired (I’m looking at you coleslaw). When substituting for something else isn’t an option, people will typically just take what is given and not eat it. If encouraged, it’s likely people would skip a side, even without a price adjustment. This can be communicated with menu notes or posters in restaurants that encourage patrons to ask that a side be excluded if they don’t plan to eat it (similar to hotels asking to hang up towels that will be reused). As a limited promotion for the initiative, owners can provide coupons to those who participate.
Food surveys and analytics. Periodically ask the consumer what they think of the current food and/or monitor consumption. Customer surveys can at times be noisy, but you can get a sense of what’s most liked/disliked. This information can help reduce food that stays in a kitchen unordered or on a plate uneaten. This practice doesn’t only apply to restaurants – schools, churches, or any community center that provides food can benefit from knowing if people want what they’re giving (even if it’s free).
Reduce over-service. For serving lines, encourage food workers to start with the minimum and add more upon request. For paying establishments, there may be concerns of coming across as ‘cheap’. In this event, posted literature letting the customer know why your team is taking this approach can go a long way.
Spread the Word. Recycling, due to great PR, went from non-existent to being a standard practice around the world. Until food waste reduction can capture that type of representation, community leaders can trailblaze this effort by displaying infographics in their establishments. For example, share ways the organization reduces food waste. This would not only be good PR for the initiative, but for your institution as well.

For help on how you can implement these ideas or others, please contact Outside2Inside to support your food waste reduction journey.

By Felicia Yoakum, O2I Volunteer

Trash Talk: The Multimillion-Dollar Price Tag of Food Waste in Cities

Amidst every city’s hustle, glitz, and glamor lies a costly secret hidden in plain sight- food waste. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food waste accounts for 30-40 percent of the nation’s food supply. To put that into perspective, this amounted to an astonishing 133 billion pounds of food, valued at nearly $161 billion, lost in 2010 alone. In relation to food waste costs within urban settings, dealing with issues ranging from spoilage to transportation and food processing has both indirect and direct impacts on a community’s economy. The costs associated with food waste in urban settings are both direct and indirect when it comes to spoilage, transportation, and the processing of food.

Food loss is a multifaceted issue rooted in various causes, encompassing distinct forms of loss, such as spoilage, that manifest throughout the entire production and supply chain. Spanning from the point of harvest to the retail stage, food loss can materialize due to challenges encountered during processes like drying, milling, transportation, and processing, which make food susceptible to damage inflicted by insects, rodents, birds, molds, and bacteria. Retail food loss may stem from equipment malfunctions, such as faulty cold storage facilities, excessive ordering practices, and the discarding of imperfect produce. Additionally, consumers play a role in contributing to food loss when they purchase or cook more than necessary and opt to dispose of surplus items.

Similarly, when we waste food, we are discarding edible resources and squandering the significant energy investments that go into its transportation. According to a study conducted by Columbia University, the journey from farms to consumers’ homes accounts for a significant portion of the overall energy consumption in the United States, nearly 10 percent of the nation’s energy budget. This staggering statistic underscores the interconnectedness of food production and energy consumption. Every scrap that ends up in the trash reflects a missed opportunity to nourish someone and embodies the vast amounts of fossil fuels, electricity, and human effort expended in cultivating, harvesting, processing, packaging, and delivering that food to our tables. Therefore, minimizing food waste isn’t just about reducing the environmental impact; it’s also a crucial step in conserving energy resources and mitigating the broader ecological footprint of our food system.

In addition, processing errors at the retail level significantly contribute to food loss, impacting both businesses and the environment. One error can be found in equipment malfunctions, such as when refrigeration units fail in cold storage facilities, causing perishable goods to spoil and resulting in significant food wastage. Moreover, over-ordering products in anticipation of customer demand can lead to excess inventory, which remains unused and ultimately discarded. Another contributing factor is the rejection of imperfect produce; retailers often discard fruits and vegetables that do not meet strict cosmetic standards. According to Columbia University, this facet of food waste constitutes nearly 40% of unconsumed food. Collectively, these practices underscore the pressing issue of food loss and emphasize the crucial need for the implementation of sustainable and efficient strategies within the retail sector to address this problem.

While the allure of cities is undeniable, behind the scenes, millions of dollars are silently slipping through the cracks due to food waste. To combat this, we must adopt a holistic approach. Educating consumers about responsible purchasing and portion control, encouraging retailers to revise strict cosmetic standards, and investing in better storage and transportation systems are essential. Additionally, supporting food recovery programs and embracing technology to track and manage inventory can make a substantial impact. By working together, we can transform our urban landscapes and build a more sustainable future.

By Maha Qureshi
O2I Volunteer

Zero Waste Kitchens: Sustainable Practices for Food Waste

It is disturbing how much food is wasted worldwide. 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted annually, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Along with wasting precious resources, this causes the release of methane gas from decaying food, which worsens climate change. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that the financial impact of food waste is about $1 trillion annually, which is cause for concern. Zero waste kitchens are designed to produce as little trash as possible using the concepts of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Individuals may dramatically reduce their carbon footprint and help create a more sustainable future by implementing these practices.

1. Mindful Meal Planning

Conscious meal planning is a key component of zero waste kitchens. To avoid overspending, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) stresses the value of making shopping lists based on actual needs. This method not only saves money but also lessens food waste. Because less resources are used in the production, transportation, and disposal of food when there is less food waste. Households can also save money by forgoing pointless purchases and maximizing the value of the food they do purchase.

2. Recycling and Composting

Diverting food scraps from landfills is a powerful technique to use composting to treat organic waste. Composting improves soil, lowers methane emissions, and closes the nutrient loop, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the composting process, organic wastes such as food scraps, yard debris, and other biodegradable items break down. Compost that is rich in nutrients is created when these materials decompose. The soil’s structure, ability to retain water, and nutrient content can all be enhanced by adding this compost to it. Compost’s organic material improves soil fertility and encourages the development of helpful bacteria that support plant growth.