This week, on my commute to work, I’ve been learning about the global issue of food waste and exploring the Play Store for apps that make it possible and easy for the average smartphone owner to become part of the solution. Here’s what I’ve found:

The Problem of Food Waste

There are about 800 million starving people in the world. We produce more than enough food to feed everybody, but sadly one-third of all produce is lost or wasted. The biggest culprits for this are unsurprisingly (and uncomfortably for myself, as a Brit) the Western world. Food is lost at all stages of the cycle – production, retail, and consumer. This isn’t a new problem, and there are various initiatives and organizations working to seal the leaks (Fareshare, FoodCycle, OzHarvest).

We produce more than enough food to feed everybody, but sadly one third of all produce is lost or wasted.

It is well known that supermarkets discard blemished fruit and vegetables, even though they are still edible, assumably in the fear that customers will perceive their products as low quality. If we can eat broken biscuits, surely we can eat dented fruit? I really was pleased this morning to stumble across this recent article – LIDL are doing its bit by selling 5kg boxes of imperfect fruit for just £1.50. Hopefully, other big chains will catch on soon too.

It is well known that supermarkets discard blemished fruit and vegetables, even though they are still edible.

When it comes to prepared food outlets like restaurants and cafes, I can imagine it’s quite hard to avoid having a few extra meals or sandwiches at the end of the day – consumer behavior is impossible to predict perfectly.

For many years, The Pret Foundation (aka Pret A Manger) has been sending a fleet of vans around to stores at the end of the day to collect unsold goods and deliver them to homeless shelters – last year they’re estimated to have distributed over 3 million food items to people in need! Well done, Pret.

Food Waste Apps that are Addressing the Problem:

I’ve picked out three of my favorite food waste apps on the Play Store to share.

1) TooGoodToGo (Play Store, App Store)

its mission is to reduce food waste by allowing nearby restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets to advertise and sell food that they would otherwise waste. Users simply find a local store, order, and collect at a specified time. All food is sold at a bargain price between £2 – £4.

2) Karma (Play Store)

similar to TooGoodToGo, this app focuses on reducing waste at the retail level. Pick up half-price, unwanted food from local grocery stores, restaurants, and cafes between 2 pm-6 pm, and get notified when your favorite outlets have just advertised unwanted food.

3) Olio (Play Store)

a handy little app that allows you to offer and take unwanted household food (and non-food) items from people nearby, often for free. With a few clicks and a couple of messages, you can avoid the guilt of throwing away that extra pot of baby food or bag of ground coffee, and meet a new neighbor in the process!

Don’t ever play yourself. Put it this way, it took me twenty-five years to get these plants, twenty-five years of blood sweat, and tears, I’m just getting started. Surround yourself with angels, positive energy, beautiful people, beautiful souls, clean heart, angels. It’s on you how you want to live your life. Everyone has a choice. I pick my choice, squeaky clean. I’m up to something. They don’t want us to win. Mogul talk. Look at the sunset, life is amazing, life is beautiful, and life is what you make it.

What else can we do?

What else can we do on an individual level? Well, besides grabbing a box from LIDL and onboarding with initiatives and food waste apps like TooGoodToGo and Olio, there’s a lot we can do in our own homes.

My mum’s favorite phrase is “waste not, want not” and from thirty years of experience, I can tell you there is nothing wrong with eating (vegetarian) food that is ‘on the turn’. And what about that fruit tree in the garden? Feeling inspired, I took five minutes before leaving the house on Thursday to pop out to the big fig tree and fill up a large Tupperware with fresh, delicious figs to take to my friends and colleagues at work. They went down so well, I was asked to do the same the next day! I hope this article has inspired one or two people to become part of the solution too.

Food waste apps FAQs

How do you keep track of food in the fridge?

Keeping track of food in the fridge can be done through a few simple methods. One way is to label your food items with their names and dates of storage. This allows you to easily identify what needs to be consumed first. Another helpful tip is to store similar items together in designated areas or containers, such as grouping dairy products, fruits, and vegetables separately. Additionally, you can create a simple inventory list or use a digital app to track the contents of your fridge.

How do I organize my fridge to prevent food waste?

Organizing your fridge effectively can help prevent food waste. Here are some tips to consider:

1. Regularly clean and declutter your fridge to maintain visibility and prevent forgotten items from spoiling.
2. Store perishable items like meats and dairy products on lower shelves where the temperature is cooler.
3. Use clear containers or storage bins to group similar items together. This makes it easier to locate and use them before they spoil.
4. Place older food items in front and newer ones at the back to ensure that older items are used first.
5. Keep a designated “eat me first” section where you store items that need to be consumed soon.

Is there an app to keep track of leftovers?

Yes, there are several apps available that can help you keep track of leftovers. These apps allow you to input the type of food, date of storage and even set reminders for when it should be consumed. Some popular examples include “Fridge Pal,” “Fresh Box,” and “EatByDate.” These apps not only help you manage your leftovers efficiently but also minimize food waste by ensuring timely consumption.

How do I organize my leftovers in the fridge?

Properly organizing leftovers in the fridge can help you locate and use them before they go bad. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Use clear and airtight containers to store leftovers. Clear containers make it easier to identify the contents without having to open them.
2. Label each container with the name of the food and the date it was stored. This helps you keep track of how long the leftovers have been in the fridge.
3. Place the containers in a designated area, such as a specific shelf or drawer, to keep them separate from other items.
4. Stack containers neatly, with the oldest leftovers in front and the newer ones in the back. This ensures that you use the older leftovers first and prevents them from getting forgotten.
5. Consider grouping similar types of leftovers together. For example, keep all vegetable-based leftovers in one section and meat-based leftovers in another. This helps with easy identification and prevents cross-contamination.

Remember, it’s important to regularly check your fridge for any expired or spoiled leftovers and discard them promptly to maintain food safety.

BarstensVol

This Netherlands-based company finds treasure in the foods that would otherwise be heading for the bin simply because they don’t qualify for the market standards. Many foods are discarded because they are bigger or smaller than what the market requires, or they have a funny shape or a small deformity. BarstensVol stepped in to reduce food waste and uses such foods to make delicious ready-to-heat soups.

SAVE FOOD ASIA-PACIFIC

About half a billion people die in the Asian Pacific region yet a lot of food about 42 percent goes to waste. This is so ironic so Save Food Asia-Pacific came in to show how leftover food is not waste, but actually, it is a need in this region and all over the world. This campaign addresses food waste issues in Asia and the Pacific region. The main issue causing food waste in developing countries is post-harvest losses. This campaign educates the masses and provides resources that deal with food waste to increase and provide sustainable consumption.

AGRIPROTEIN TECHNOLOGIES

This South-African-based company uses organic waste from food factories, hotels, and restaurants to make food for chicken and fish that are farm raised. The company also uses products from supermarkets that are out of date to make such useful products. This benefits the company, which makes treasure from trash; it as well saves the environment and improves food production from chicken and fish.

SNACT     

Two environmentalists, Michael and Llana knew nothing about food production, marketing or FMCG but with a small room rented in Hackney, they used to collect food surplus from the market after the trading day was over and tried many recipes for making snacks. Sometimes later their products were in the market and embraced by many, more than they ever expected. These two lovers of the environment save the surplus food that would, however, be filing the dustbins and at the same time, they produce healthy snacks that have no preservatives, additives, or flavorings. They ensure to produce foods that are exactly as nature intended.

AGRIDUST

It is an Italian 3-D printing company, which uses food waste in its printing work. Unlike other 3-D printing companies that use plastics, which are not recyclable, AgriDust uses waste vegetables and fruits. Most of the materials used by AgriDust in its 3-D printing work come from food waste. For its binding work, AgriDust uses potato starch. Their products can be used to replace unrecyclable plastics or can even be used in printing out samples before producing a finished product.

These companies have seen a treasure in what we consider waste and unfit for human consumption. I vote for them and more others that I haven’t mentioned in this article as world heroes. You can also be a hero, buy only what you need and store your foods well to prevent them from spoiling.

Join the Fight Against Food Waste! Be a Hero for the Planet!

Products made from Food Waste FAQs

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h3″ question-0=”What products can be made from food waste?” answer-0=”Food waste can be transformed into various products through recycling and repurposing. Some common examples include organic compost, animal feed, biogas for energy production, and bio-based materials like packaging and biofuels.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h3″ question-1=”How can we reuse kitchen waste?” answer-1=”There are several ways to reuse kitchen waste effectively. One option is composting, where food scraps are converted into nutrient-rich compost for gardening and landscaping. Another approach is vermiculture, using worms to break down organic waste into nutrient-rich vermicompost. Additionally, some kitchen waste can be used to make homemade stock, broth, or infused oils, reducing waste and enhancing flavors in cooking.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h3″ question-2=”What food waste can be recycled into?” answer-2=”Food waste can be recycled into various useful products. It can be processed in anaerobic digesters to produce biogas, which can be used as a renewable energy source. Food waste can also be converted into organic fertilizers and soil conditioners through composting, enriching soil quality. Additionally, certain food waste materials can be repurposed into bio-based materials such as bioplastics, biofuels, and animal feed.” image-2=”” count=”3″ html=”true” css_class=””]