Food waste at Christmas: How bad is it and what can you do about it?

How much food do we waste at Christmas?
How much food do we waste at Christmas? Copyright Getty Images
By Emilia Jansson
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button

It's all about changing your mindset when it comes to throwing away food after dinner.

ADVERTISEMENT

Christmas meals are traditionally bounteous occasions when indulging is a top priority. 

But festive feasts bring problems with them too - and food waste is a big one.

In Europe alone around 88 million tonnes of food waste is produced every year. And in the EU, it is households which are responsible for more than half of the total food waste.

So how do we ensure we’re cutting down on waste during a celebration so often associated with huge quantities of food?

Pierre Condamine is the waste policy officer at Zero Waste Europe. According to him, the best approach to avoid throwing away your grub is to change your mindset from the start.

The best approach to avoid throwing away your grub is to change your mindset from the start.

“The first tip is to cook with a preventative approach,” he says. This includes calculating exactly how much food will be needed, and adapting any recipes accordingly.

Condamine says Christmas is an excellent time for solidarity. You could search for food sharing platforms online, or give any leftover food to neighbours or someone in need.

“It’s not just about individual things, this is also about what you can do to the community,” he says.

Giving away food to your neighbour can help save food and spread cheer.
Giving away food to your neighbour can help save food and spread cheer.Getty

Differences around Europe

In Europe food waste varies from country to country. In some countries wastage happens on a consumer level while in others it is greater on a production level.

In Portugal for example, only 17 per cent of food is left over, whereas in the EU overall it is 20 per cent.

Condamine says part of the reason for the differences between countries is legislations in each nation. Some countries such as France have made it compulsory for supermarkets to give away food instead of throwing it away.

The European Green New Deal aims to reduce food waste by fifty per cent by 2030.

Food waste is a huge problem in Europe.
Food waste is a huge problem in Europe.Getty

Changing minds, changing ways

Food waste is not just an issue during the Christmas period. Even after the chocolate has been scoffed and our bellies are filled with mulled wine, scraps will still be left on plates and emptied into bins across the continent.

Condamine says it is important to look at the bigger picture. “This is like a circular vision of food production, and food waste is embedded in this, but it’s bigger, it’s about the whole sustainable food system.”

“I think the first thing we forget is that it’s about not wasting in the first place.”

What can you do to reduce waste at Christmas?

  • Buy locally sourced food: shorter supply chains are less likely to generate food waste.
  • Share with the community: helping someone in need will also help the planet.
  • Look up recipes to make something else out of the leftovers: apples can be made into jam for example.
  • Don’t go food shopping when hungry: make a list in advance and stick to it.
Share this articleComments

You might also like