Hi, guys! It’s me, Nina – your favorite Food-Saving Penguin!
I’m back – did you miss me? As you all know, I’ve had a tough couple of years after leaving my home in Antarctica due to the devastating effects of climate change. I won’t sugarcoat it – it’s been hard seeing my world change so drastically. It makes you wonder: What’s causing all this? What’s driving the destruction of my home? One surprising factor is food waste. Yes, food waste isn’t just about throwing away uneaten meals – it’s also a major contributor to climate change. Today, I want to dive into the connection between food waste and climate change, share some jaw-dropping facts about how we treat our food, and, most importantly, show you what you can do to help fight food waste (...like using GoNina!). Together, we can make a difference – let’s get started!
What Even Is Food Waste?
Before we dive into the effects of food waste, let’s start with the basics: What exactly is food waste? Food waste happens when food intended for consumption is discarded – and this can happen at any stage of the supply chain, from harvesting to your own kitchen. Let me explain it another way (because I’m very good at explaining things): Food loss refers to waste during the earlier stages of production – for example, crops left in fields due to poor harvesting practices. Food waste, on the other hand, occurs later when perfectly edible food is discarded for other reasons, like spoilage or consumer behavior (1).
The Astonishing Numbers
The most shocking statistic I’ve seen about food waste is that one-third of all food produced globally is wasted. That’s about 1.3 billion tons (2) of food every year!
Now, I know these big numbers are hard to imagine, so let’s break it down:
An Airbus A380-800 weighs about 394 tons (3), so the annual food waste equals nearly 3.3 million airplanes.
An average rocket weighs about 1,063 tons (4) – that’s 1.2 million rockets’ worth of food waste!
A grown emperor penguin weighs about 45 kg (5) (yes, I’m keeping my exact weight a secret), food waste amounts to 35.5 billion penguins like me.
Can you believe that?! It’s a number too big to comprehend – but one we need to pay attention to.
Food Waste’s Impact on the Environment
While food waste results in immense economic losses, its impact on the environment is even more alarming. The problems don’t just stem from the act of discarding perfectly edible food but from wasting all the resources used to produce it. Food waste accounts for one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and generates 8%–11% of global greenhouse gases annually. The later in the value chain food is wasted, the greater its environmental impact, as more resources have already been invested in its production. According to the FAO (6), wealthier countries generate most of their food waste at the consumer level, whereas developing countries see more food waste during production (7). Does this apply to Switzerland? Unfortunately, yes. Switzerland wastes about 2.8 million tons of food each year (equivalent to around 7,100 airplanes), with 38% of that waste coming from households (8). The effects of this waste are truly staggering:
Waste of Natural Resources: Food waste squanders vital resources like water, energy, and fuel. Agriculture alone uses 70% of global freshwater. For example, wasting just one kilogram of beef is equivalent to throwing away 50,000 liters of water.
Contribution to Climate Change: Rotting food in landfills releases methane (yes, the same gas released by cow manure!), which contributes to 20% of global emissions.
Harming Biodiversity: Deforestation and overfishing to meet the demand for food destroy habitats and threaten species. Like my dolphin friends that have been fleeing their homes for decades, pushed away by fishing boats disrupting their environment (9).
What Can You Do to Prevent Food Waste?
These alarming facts inspired my friends to create GoNina, a platform dedicated to saving food. But you don’t have to stop there – there are so many ways you can reduce food waste in your daily life. Let me share some tips:
Forget the expiration date! Instead of automatically tossing food when it "expires," check if it’s actually gone bad. Look for blemishes, smell it, and cut off any spoiled parts.
Plan your meals. Don’t wander the grocery store aimlessly (especially not when you’re hungry!). Buy only what you need, and you’ll waste less.
Store leftovers correctly. Pack them up and use them for lunch the next day or repurpose them into a new dish. Get creative – leftovers can be surprisingly versatile!
Ask for a doggy bag at restaurants. Whether or not you like the term, don’t leave your meal behind. You paid for it – enjoy it the next day at home!
And if you find yourself with an empty fridge and tight money at the end of the month, don’t worry – GoNina has got your back with delicious Wonder Bags. My penguin tummy definitely depends on them when it starts growling!
That’s it from me, guys! I hope you learned something new and feel inspired to join the fight against food waste. Remember: every little step counts, and together we can make a difference.
Have a great day, and see you soon!
Cheers,
Nina the Penguin 🐧
Sources:
2 Source: United Nations & WRAP Ngo
4 Source: Average Weight of a Rocket
5 Source: Emperor Penguin
6 Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
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