Our grandparents produced very little waste. Our way of living and consumption, as well as the practices of industry and shops, have vastly increased the average volumes of our household waste. These waste volumes have a huge impact on resources and our environment. Yet the future is not written in stone, because we can strive to reduce our waste even before we sort it for recycling. We can all move towards a ‘zero waste’ goal. Here are a few tips that we should all follow!
Sometimes our cupboards are overflowing with perishable goods. However, managing your food stocks is one of the keys to wasting less. But only buying what you need is easier said than done. Learning a few easy habits helps you to avoid unnecessary purchases.
Plan your meals in advance and make a shopping list: You will limit your impulse buys and save time.
Go for loose fruit and vegetables: You will buy exactly the right quantity and cut down on packaging.
Do not do the shopping when you are hungry: It is a funny thing, but studies have shown that we buy too much and make poorer choices on an empty stomach.
Past its sell-by date yoghurt, spoiled fruit, or mouldy biscuits… Too much food ends up in the waste bin because it was not properly stored. This results in a lot of waste! The solution is to follow a few good habits, in order to store food properly and throw away less.
Check out these tips for better food storage and to avoid waste.
Did you know that a third of the food waste we throw away could have been eaten? In Brussels, it means 19 kg of food wasted per person per year. That is way too much for the environment… and for your wallet. Just a few simple, common-sense actions are all you need to become a zero-waste expert.
