Systemic and Behaviour Change to Tackle Australia's Food Waste Crisis

The Global Food Waste Crisis

Globally, an estimated 30% to 50% of all food produced goes uneaten, and a staggering 60% of the food thrown into landfills is still perfectly edible.

While discarding uneaten food might appear insignificant compared to other environmental issues, the sobering reality is that the global food system is responsible for emitting approximately a third of the world's human-produced greenhouse gases annually. A significant portion of these emissions are attributed to food loss and waste, including those associated with supply chains and waste management. 

To put this into perspective, here are some fast facts for you: 

• If food loss and waste were a country, its greenhouse gas emissions would rank as the third largest in the world, trailing only behind the United States and China. 
• 8-10% of global greenhouse gas such emissions are linked to unconsumed food.  
• Methane, generated from decaying food in landfills, exhibits 28 times greater global warmer potential than carbon dioxide.

Australia’s Food Waste Challenge 

In Australia, we discard approximately 7.6 million tonnes of food each year throughout the food supply chain, amounting to approximately 312 kilograms per person and potentially costing households up to $2,500 per year.  

According to the National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study (2021) food waste annually costs the Australian economy approximately $36.6 billion and contributed to about 3% of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to the emissions generated, wasted food means wasted resources, including water, energy, and land.  

With roughly 2,600 gigalitres of water used annually to cultivate wasted food, equivalent to the volume of water in five Sydney Harbours.  

Furthermore, the land used to produce wasted food in Australia spans over 25 million hectares, exceeding the total landmass of the state of Victoria. 

Understanding Food Loss and Waste

Food loss and waste occurs at various stages of the food supply chain, from production to consumption. Food loss usually pertains to food lost during earlier stages of production, including harvest, storage, and transportation. Whereas food waste refers to items suitable for human consumption but discarded, frequently occurring at supermarkets or by consumers.

By addressing food waste through a combination of systemic changes and behaviour modifications, it is possible to mitigate the environmental impact, improve food security, and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable food system.

Strategies for Change: Policy and Practice

At the government level

The development and implementation of policies regarding date and consumption labels and prioritising food donation over disposal, akin to France's regulation prohibiting supermarkets from discarding unsold food, can notably decrease downstream waste.

The Australian Government’s National Food Waste Strategy provides a framework to support collective action towards halving Australia’s food waste by 2030.

Within the industry

Investments in infrastructure, such as improved storage and transportation systems, can curb food waste in upstream stages of the supply chain. Furthermore, research advancements in harvesting, storage, and redistribution methods can aid in preventing and reducing food loss.

These investments, coupled with innovations in food packaging and preservation, can prolong the shelf life of food products, thereby minimising waste at the retail and consumer levels.

How to get involved

1. Raising awareness regarding the environmental impact of food waste is pivotal
2. Eating seasonal and local produce can have a lower environmental footprint and composting left over food can assist in reducing emissions associated with disposal
3. Organising your fridge to easily identify food that needs to be used and developing meals based on this food is another easy way to reduce food waste

Food Waste Action Week 2024: 18th - 24th March

Food Waste Action Week 2024 will be encouraging citizens to ‘Choose What You’ll Use’, highlighting the benefits of buying loose fruit and vegetables and inspiring people to do this wherever they can. Buying loose reduces food waste - WRAP research has shown that if all apples, bananas and potatoes were sold loose, we could save 70,000 tonnes of food waste by enabling people to buy closer to their needs.

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