11 tips for reducing food waste

11.12.2023

We can all get involved in the food rescue mission. We offer you some simple tips on how to prevent food waste.

Globally, tons of edible food are thrown away every day. About 14 percent of all food produced globally is wasted in the chain between harvest and retail. Huge quantities of food are also wasted by large food chains, in restaurants and households.

For many people around the world, food waste has become a habit. The main reasons are:

• Buying more food than we need;
• Improper storage of food produced or purchased;
• Choosing larger portions in restaurants than we can eat.

These habits put additional strain on our natural resources and damage the environment. When we waste food, we waste the labor, effort investment, and valuable resources (such as water, seeds, feed, etc.) that go into producing it. We also waste resources transporting and processing it. In other words, wasting food increases greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to climate change.

It is the responsibility of everyone in the chain - from food producers and farms to retailers and restaurateurs, to consumers - to help end food waste. Reducing food waste is essential in a world where millions of people go hungry every day. It is up to us to change our habits!

How to reduce food waste?

Here are some easy actions we can follow to avoid throwing food away:

1. Choose a healthy diet

In our hectic everyday life, preparing home-cooked food seems to be an increasingly complicated activity. However, it turns out that healthy meals are not that complicated to prepare, the products for them cause less damage to the rhythm and take much less time than we think. The internet is full of quick and easy healthy recipes a click away. Choose your meals and share them with family and friends.

2. Buy only what you need

Plan your meals. Make a shopping list, stick to it, and avoid impulse purchases. Not only will you throw away less food, you'll save money!

3. Choose ugly fruits and vegetables

Do not judge the quality of food by its appearance! Fruits and vegetables that are oddly shaped or slightly blemished are often thrown away because they do not meet consumers' 'cosmetic' standards. Don't worry - they taste the same and sometimes better! Choose them for your smoothies, juices, and desserts.

4. Store food wisely

Move older items further down in the cupboard or fridge. Use storage boxes to keep your food fresh in the fridge. Make sure packaged food is well sealed to avoid insects entering.

5. Review food labels

There is a difference between the best before and use-by dates on foods. Food is usually still safe to eat after the 'best before' date, whereas the 'use before' date signals that the food is no longer safe to eat after that date. Avoid foods with unhealthy ingredients such as trans fats, preservatives, added sugar, and salt.

6. Do not overestimate your capabilities

Order less food at the restaurant. If you are still hungry after eating it, then order more.

7. Use the leftovers

If you don't eat everything you make, freeze it for later or use the leftovers as an ingredient for another meal. If you don't manage to eat the food you ordered at the restaurant, ask them to pack it for you to take away.

8. Support local producers

By shopping locally, you support small businesses and family farms locally. This step also supports the fight against smuggling by reducing the need for long-distance deliveries and the consequent use of larger amounts of fuel and harmful gases.

9. Eat more pulses and vegetables

Once a week, try eating a meal based on pulses or "ancient" grains such as quinoa.

10. Share your food

Donate food that would otherwise be wasted. Get involved in a charity food collection initiative by donating your excess food instead of throwing it away.

11. Save food with Edenred and Foodobox

Download the Foodobox app or join as a partner and start saving food! 

The Foodobox mobile app connects restaurants in the horeca sector with end users. Through it, eateries and grocery stores offer products that have not sold out during the day at a discount of at least 40%. Users of the app reserve their surprise box matching the category to their taste, then pick it up on the spot from the establishment at a selected time range. For every box saved by users, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by about 2.5 kg.

Small changes in our daily habits can have a big global impact. Take the initiative, and stop food waste!