Cost of taking action: £/$/€ NIL
There’s no excuse for the current massive food waste in developed countries
Across the developed world we waste millions of tonnes of food. This is:
- hugely expensive
- responsible for substantial wasted carbon emissions
- consuming packaging and transport resources unnecessarily
- highly unethical
- contributing to landfill and waste pollution
At least a third of all food produced globally is never eaten, and the value of this wasted food is worth over $1 trillion a year. According to OLIO, all of the world’s nearly one billion hungry people could be fed on less than a quarter of the food that is wasted in the US, UK and Europe.
All in all, it’s got to stop!
Most of this will have to come as a result of improving our own self control as consumers and shoppers, but when there is potential waste, here’s a great little smartphone app which helps you give unwanted food (and other items) to local people that need it. It helps you stay more environmentally responsible, and it help those that need support.
It’s call OLIO and you can download it to your Android or Apple phone. Start here …
How does it work?
OLIO connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away.
This could be food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from your baker, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away.
The app can also be used for non-food household items too.
- download the app
- join up
- open the app
- add a photo and description
- say when and where the item is available for pick-up
Small actions can lead to big change. Collectively – one rescued cake, carrot or bottle of lotion at a time – we can build a more sustainable future where our most precious resources are shared, not thrown away.
Take action
Download the app now and start reducing our massive food waste problem.