Food waste is a common phenomenon in developed countries. Changing your habits in a simple way can help you avoid throwing away food and be more respectful of the planet.
In some parts of the world, lack of food is the main concern, while in others, kilos of food are wasted every day. According to FAO figures, one-third of the food produced in the world is lost or wasted for human consumption. This food would be enough to feed two billion people, more than double the number of undernourished people in the world.
The culture of excessive and compulsive consumption is responsible for a situation that is not only negative from a social and economic point of view, but also contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases and, consequently, to global warming. To avoid this negative behavior, the first step is to become aware.
There are many causes of food waste: lack of foresight, poor organization, lack of a weekly plan, excessive and inadequate purchases, different family structures, etc. By changing a few habits, it is possible to reduce the inappropriate behavior of throwing away food.
The solution: a glass jar
In this regard, one Reddit user shared the simple change he made to his daily routine to stop throwing away leftover food without it ending up in the trash. In his post, the user said, “I know, it's so small, but it gives me so much satisfaction. I looked up how to preserve half an onion and learned how to use an airtight can. I had nothing and saw this jar that I was about to throw away”.
Taking my first baby steps of reducing my waste by u/wiwaszka in ZeroWaste
It may not seem like a big deal, but it's a first step toward a more sustainable kitchen, which can also save a lot of money. A very valid alternative is to throw away the ingredients you don't finish using while cooking. This way, you have the opportunity to use the ingredient before it goes bad, and it can even serve as inspiration on a night when you don't know what to eat for lunch or dinner.
Small steps like this are a first step toward a more sustainable kitchen.
Also, as you can see from the image, by using an airtight glass jar, you avoid using plastic packaging such as cling film or Ziploc bags. It is much more cost effective and convenient to use used jars to keep food fresh, rather than using plastic which is much more polluting to the planet.