Why do we throw away so much food?
In other words, it is not only food that is actually no longer edible that we consider to be rubbish. No, also those foods that are simply not as fresh as they used to be.
Food is not a scarce commodity for us and is available relatively cheap in the supermarket around the corner at any time. What is easy to have, however, is also quickly disposed of. Hardly anyone makes an effort to consume food completely anymore.
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Hmm. A day after the expiration date. That yogurt still edible?
You know it...
...bananas ALWAYS get overripe too soon.
The waste of food is not only an unnecessary waste of money, but also consumes resources such as water and land from the field to the plate.
Kim, our sustainability expert
4 things, you can do
#breakfast for future: French toast
The Swiss study shows that separate disposal helps to better perceive the amount of your own food waste. In the best case you won′t throw away food that careless anymore.
Give leftovers another chance in new, tasty dishes. Old bread? How about French toast?
For example, do not place apples in the peel with the other fruit, but rather store them separately. The ripening gas of the apples would otherwise cause other fruit to rot faster. And yoghurts are still edible for up to two weeks beyond the best-before date.
How bad food waste is for the environment depends greatly on the products it is made of. Animal products and highly processed foods are particularly harmful to the environment. Better go for vegetarian and natural food – an apple a day. ;)
Food Waste and the next steps
Switzerland has committed itself to halving food waste in the retail trade and among consumers, including those at home, by 2030. And there are also some savings to be made in the production of food. Since March 2019, the Federal Council has been working on an action plan against food waste and is in the process of drafting concrete solutions.
We think that′s a good start. However, have a look at what we are already doing at Baloise on the subject of sustainability and where our journey is heading – stay tuned!
