Reduce Waste
One of the most effective things we can do to solve climate change is to stop wasting resources like food which is also great for our bank accounts and our environment.
Why is this important?
Food waste alone is massive. If it was a country, it would be the third highest emitter of climate pollution after the US and China! (Source)
More than a third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste but it is possible through easy, practical steps to play your role in reducing this waste.
Everything we consume has a climate impact, but by acting together we can reduce, reuse and recycle sources of waste to achieve a safe climate future.
Key Actions
Reduce Food Waste
By taking steps to save food we can achieve an emissions reduction equivalent to taking 529 million cars off the road, protect the environment, and ultimately have more money to spend each week (Source)
Action:
Use these simple steps to reduce food waste with this guide from the EPA.
Check out these resources from Love Food Hate Waste including an A-Z which foods can be stored, a portion planner, leftover recipes and more.
Reduce waste while dining out with these great tips from I Value Food.
Fight food waste at your high school, college or professional workplace by joining the Food Recovery Network, an organization helping fight food waste and hunger in America.
Reduce Food Waste
By taking steps to save food we can achieve an emissions reduction equivalent to taking 529 million cars off the road, protect the environment, and ultimately have more money to spend each week (Source)
Action:
Use these simple steps to reduce food waste with this guide from the EPA.
Check out these resources from Love Food Hate Waste including an A-Z which foods can be stored, a portion planner, leftover recipes and more.
Reduce waste while dining out with these great tips from I Value Food.
Fight food waste at your high school, college or professional workplace by joining the Food Recovery Network, an organization helping fight food waste and hunger in America.
Reduce waste at home
The choices you make as a consumer can be powerful in reducing waste and protecting our climate.
Action:
Reduce your plastic usage with these tips from Iberdrola; or for a more extensive guide check out My Plastic Free Life’s 100 steps.
Make sure you recycle what plastic you use. Read this article to learn what plastics to recycle and how to dispose of the ones you can’t.
Read about how single-use products contribute to climate change, and pledge to purchase quality items that last a long time.
Ask outlets you do shop at to give you a minimally packaged option, or carry a reusable bag with you while shopping.
Reduce waste at home
The choices you make as a consumer can be powerful in reducing waste and protecting our climate.
Action:
Reduce your plastic usage with these tips from Iberdrola; or for a more extensive guide check out My Plastic Free Life’s 100 steps.
Make sure you recycle what plastic you use. Read this article to learn what plastics to recycle and how to dispose of the ones you can’t.
Read about how single-use products contribute to climate change, and pledge to purchase quality items that last a long time.
Ask outlets you do shop at to give you a minimally packaged option, or carry a reusable bag with you while shopping.
Reduce your waste from clothing
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global emissions- more than the airline and shipping industries combined (Source).
Action:
Reduce how much clothing you buy. The best way to reduce how much energy goes into making your clothes is simply to buy less.
Donate used clothes to a good cause and save carbon in the process. Check out this guide from Money Crashers on great places to give to.
Buy and sell clothes on the second hand market. Check out Sustainable Jungle’s list of online thrift stores to find bargain deals, or make extra cash.
Think about where you buy your clothes from. Avoid “fast fashion” which has the worst climate track record and consider some of these sustainability focused brands sourced by The Good Trade.
Wash fewer laundry loads, cold wash, and line dry to reduce your emissions and extend the life of your clothes. Read about this impact in this article from the Guardian.
Reduce your waste from clothing
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global emissions- more than the airline and shipping industries combined (Source).
Action:
Reduce how much clothing you buy. The best way to reduce how much energy goes into making your clothes is simply to buy less.
Donate used clothes to a good cause and save carbon in the process. Check out this guide from Money Crashers on great places to give to.
Buy and sell clothes on the second hand market. Check out Sustainable Jungle’s list of online thrift stores to find bargain deals, or make extra cash.
Think about where you buy your clothes from. Avoid “fast fashion” which has the worst climate track record and consider some of these sustainability focused brands sourced by The Good Trade.
Wash fewer laundry loads, cold wash, and line dry to reduce your emissions and extend the life of your clothes. Read about this impact in this article from the Guardian.
Reduce food waste through composting
Throwing away 3kg of edible food results in greenhouse gases equivalent to 23kg of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere. (Source) Compost and let nature do the work in turning food waste from a problem into a resource. This resource can be sold or used in your backyard to improve plant health.
Action:
Learn how to create an outdoor composting system for your backyard or indoor composting bin with helpful guides from the EPA.
Find people who want your food waste to compost at MakeSoil.
Use Compost Now if you are unable to create your own compost.
Reduce food waste through composting
Throwing away 3kg of edible food results in greenhouse gases equivalent to 23kg of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere. (Source) Compost and let nature do the work in turning food waste from a problem into a resource. This resource can be sold or used in your backyard to improve plant health.
Action:
Learn how to create an outdoor composting system for your backyard or indoor composting bin with helpful guides from the EPA.
Find people who want your food waste to compost at MakeSoil.
Use Compost Now if you are unable to create your own compost.
How it adds up
Global emissions from food waste are nearly equivalent to those from global road transport (source).
If no action is taken, the emissions from the fashion industry are on track to grow 50% by 2050 (source).
More than a third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste. In the US alone, emissions from food waste in a given year are equivalent to those from 37 million cars (Source).
Further, the average ‘Western’ citizen creates about 100 kgs of plastic a year- equivalent to 600kg of CO2 (Source),(Source). Using plastic also aids large oil companies, creates devastates wildlife, and necessitates emissions during disposal.