Food waste is a major contributor to climate change. It contributes to about 8% of the world's greenhouse emissions – and Australia plays a part.

In 2018, our 3.1 million tonnes of food waste was enough to fill about 1,200 Olympic swimming pools. And in 2021, the national food waste bill was $10.3 billion, which could have provided food for every household in Brisbane for a year.

As we aim to halve our food waste by 2030 and create a more sustainable future, it's crucial to pay more attention to what we throw in the bin. Producing, processing, packaging, storing, and transporting food requires energy, water, and other resources, all of which are wasted when food is thrown away.

Let's go through some easy ways you can reduce the amount of food waste in your own home.

1. Meal plan to avoid overbuying

Meal planning isn't just about reducing food waste — it can also make your life easier and save you money! Choose meals that can be stored in the fridge over multiple nights or transformed into delicious lunches with leftovers.

By buying the right amount of ingredients, you'll minimise waste and make the most of your shopping trips. Planning ahead means fewer last-minute dashes to the supermarket, giving you more time for the things you love. It also takes the guesswork out of mealtime and helps you choose healthier options.

The Saveful app is also a goldmine of foodie inspo – it provides flexible meal frameworks based on the foods you already have on hand. The app was developed with Thankful 4 Farmers to help Aussie households save food, money, and time – so you can whip up delicious meals without having to pop to the shops.

Properly storing your food and leftovers can make a big difference in their longevity and flavour. Love Food Hate Waste has a wealth of tips on food storage, planning, shopping, and cooking.

2. Opt for what’s seasonal

Shop smarter, not harder – it's time to reap the benefits of seasonal produce! Seasonal fruits and vegetables are at their peak in terms of flavour and nutrition. These foods are fresher and can last longer since they haven't travelled long distances to reach your plate. Additionally, because seasonal produce is grown closer to home, it requires less fuel for transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Visiting local farmers' markets is a great way to connect with your community and enjoy the freshest produce available – not to mention it’s usually cheaper.

So, next time you're shopping for fruits and vegetables, consider choosing what's in season. Your taste buds, your body, your community, your wallet, and the planet will thank you. Hot tip: the Saveful app can also help you out here as well – it highlights seasonal produce and gives you tips on how to use it.

3. Throw away your food scraps properly

It may seem like a small step, but disposing of your food scraps a little more thoughtfully can have a significant positive impact on the environment. One habit to adopt is using a compost heap or tub to recycle your food waste into valuable nutrients for your garden. Alternatively, you can save kitchen scraps for a worm farm or chicken coop.

Grow it Local is a phenomenal free resource if you want practical tips to reduce food waste – you can join free online workshops to learn about effective composting and worm farms, as well as tips on how to grow your own produce. Check it out if you’re keen to adopt some more sustainable living practices. We’ve also got you covered with an easy, step-by-step guide on how to compost effectively at home – trust us, once you get started, you’ll be hooked!

Some Queensland councils, like Brisbane City and Logan City, even have composting rebates, where you can get cash incentives for buying composting equipment. Check with your local council to see if your area has a similar program.

Committed to cutting down waste

While these easy at-home hacks for reducing food waste are a great start, they are just one part of a larger solution – and we’re committed to doing our part, too. The Queensland Government's  Queensland Organics Strategy sets out the targets we aim to achieve by 2030:

• Halve the amount of food waste generated
• Divert 80% of organic material generated from landfill
• Achieve a minimum 70% recycling rate for organics.

To meet these goals, we've got some big plans in place. There’s a big focus on research and education from top to bottom, targeting everyone from big corps down to folks at home. We’re g industry action plans, increasing food rescue capacity, and assessing landfill bans. Efforts also include improving organic waste collection and ensuring long-term planning for regional waste infrastructure.

We’re also getting young Queenslanders into a sustainable mindset from the get-go by throwing support behind the EcoMarines Foundation, who help teach school kids the fundamentals of waste reduction, recycling. and composting.

The Queensland Government supports End Food Waste Australia, our country’s leading organisation to deliver on the National Food Waste Strategy. It takes a three-pronged, science-based approach to the problem – aiming to reduce waste throughout the food chain supply, transform food waste into valuable product, and engage behaviour change strategies for consumers of all levels.

Want more info on the action plan? For a detailed list of the steps we're taking to cut down on food waste, take a look at the Queensland Organics Action Plan.