Did you know that food waste accounts for more than 8% of all human-made greenhouse gas emissions? That amount makes it a significant contributor to climate change.
There’s no better time than Earth Month (April) to make us aware of the effects of food waste on the planet.
Typically, Earth Day is assigned a different focus each year; this year’s theme is “Restore Our Earth.”
In the weeks leading up to this year’s celebration on April 22, various organizations and groups around the world are encouraging action and participation in initiatives that analyze the urgent need for environmental justice, sustainability, and climate solutions.
Recognizing that recycling isn’t the panacea we all once believed it to be, lots of Earth Month efforts are reinforcing efforts to reuse and upcycle as many items as possible.
Focusing on ways that our food can be part of the solution to climate change is imperative.
“Meaningful solutions to food waste are imperative to reducing our carbon footprint,” says Jillian Semaan, director of food and environment for EARTHDAY.ORG, the global organizer of Earth Day, which will hold a one-on-one, real-life solutions “fireside chat” as an Earth Day Live digital event.
The goal will be to “learn more about how upcycling food plays a role in sustaining a healthier planet.”
According to the Upcycled Food Association, upcycled foods use ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, are procured and produced using verifiable supply chains, and have a positive impact on the environment.
So upcycled food is about reducing food waste by creating high quality, nutritious food products out of the nutrients that slip through the cracks of our food system.
Food waste burdens waste management systems, increases food insecurity, and is a major contributor to the global problems of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Let’s partner with Earth Day Network to reduce this…
Reference- UN Environment Program’s (UNEP) Food Waste Index Report 2021, Earth Day Network website, Clean Technica