On this Earth Day, Planet Detroit is partnering with the nonprofit Make Food Not Waste to bring you a 7-day Food Waste Challenge. Starting on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, we’ll bring you a stepwise strategy to help you execute your personal food waste plan.
And don’t worry, we’re going to make this fun!
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), an estimated 30-40% of the food supply in the United States goes to waste every year. This amounts to approximately 133 billion pounds of food, worth over $160 billion, wasted annually. This food waste occurs at all stages of the food supply chain, including production, distribution, retail, and consumption. The average family of four wastes at least $1,500 a year in uneaten food.
Food waste has economic and social consequences and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, one-third of all food produced worldwide is wasted, which results in the emission of 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gases every year — it’s the third biggest carbon emitter.
And consumers are the biggest source of food waste, contributing 37% of food waste in the United States. Consumer-facing businesses are next at 28%.
Reducing food waste can save resources, conserve energy, and help build a more sustainable food system and help fight climate change. This staggering amount of wasted food contributes to climate change and exacerbates hunger and poverty.
Reducing food waste is a simple but powerful action that can help fight climate change and reduce hunger and poverty. It’s something almost every household can improve on.
To join the challenge, and receive daily emails for seven days starting April 22, sign up here: