Food for Thought: Just Intention Won’t Save the Planet

The anti-plastic narrative has been both useful and unhelpful. Useful for the awareness that it has created; unhelpful due to the disproportionate attention it commands in the minds of people when considering the environment — many consider it the sole issue when it comes to the sustainability cause. This leaves many other highly significant factors in the climate change question under-represented and often ignored. 

Take food wastage, for example. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about one-third of all food produced for human consumption globally is lost or wasted each year, which amounts to approximately 1.3 billion tons of food. To put this in a more relatable context, that’s enough food to feed approximately 2 billion people, which is more than twice the number of undernourished people worldwide.

Despite such compelling stats, when people think about sustainability, food wastage features depressingly low on their priority list. We validated this notion in a recent survey of over 8,500 people in Southeast Asia and found that only 5% recycle food.

With so many competing factors involved in living a sustainable lifestyle, it appears food wastage has become one of the most overlooked issues in Southeast Asia. This is a concerning and depressing observation, given that food wastage is such a significant problem, and — in large part — is an unnecessary and self-inflicted one

The impact of food wastage on the environment, economy, and society is substantial, and it poses a severe threat to global sustainability efforts.

The food waste, economy, and environment connection  

One of the primary ways that food wastage affects sustainability is by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. When food is wasted, it ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Additionally, food production requires significant resources such as land, water, and energy — think of the complexities and costs involved in getting that Argentinean steak and Alaskan cod onto a Shanghai restaurant menu — and when food is wasted, these resources are wasted as well. The result is a tremendous environmental impact that undermines efforts to achieve sustainability. 

Furthermore, food wastage has economic implications that can negatively affect communities and individuals. Wasted food represents a significant economic loss, creating food shortages and driving up prices beyond affordability, a problem particularly acute in developing countries. This can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition, which can have devastating effects on human health and development.

Not all hope is lost, however. In the same survey, there was a stated overwhelming intention from respondents to opt for more sustainable options. From eating plant-based meat substitutes to purchasing products prepared in a sustainable way, across the board, broadly 9 in 10 expressed a willingness to do more. The disheartening side of this, though, is that this intention is not currently being backed by any real action. Only 6% to 13% across all categories say they are already practicing sustainable food consumerism. This number may be too insignificant to create a lasting impact. 

It is essential to raise awareness and elevate the issue of food waste to the same level of importance as other causes within the wider sustainability movement. By doing so, we can encourage meaningful action and make a real difference in reducing the amount of food that goes to waste each day. As individuals, small but significant steps towards reducing food waste, such as planning meals, buying only what one needs, and repurposing leftovers apart from the other options in the chart below can help. But the elusive question remains: When will our intent finally translate into action?

Food wastage has a profound impact on sustainability, and humans wasting food unnecessarily exacerbates this problem. By reducing food wastage, we can conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote economic and social sustainability. This requires a collective effort to raise awareness, change behaviours, and implement sustainable practices at all levels of the food supply chain. 

To implement sustainable practices in your business, whether it is in the food industry or otherwise, reach out to us on connect@blackbox.com.sg