Photo by Bluewater Sweden on Unsplash
As an avid environmentalist I cannot resist a good “how to” guide for helping the Earth. The following list of zero-waste hacks have been accumulated through reading the following books:
- Low Cost Living by John Harrison
- How to Be Green by John Button
- Say No To Plastic: 101 easy ways to use less plastic by Harriet Dyer
- Save the World: There is no Planet B by Louise Bradford
The first two previously belonged to my parents and were published in 2009 and 1989 respectively. The second two, I purchased at the Manchester Museum at the University of Manchester, and they were published much more recently - in 2018 and 2019. (In an interesting aside note, I’ve found that lay literature and eco guides tend to be written more by female writers these days, whereas older books pre-2000 are predominantly male… A point to consider when thinking who the responsibility of sustainability is put on to… Anyway back to food!)
First, let’s address the intrinsic link between food waste and food poverty.
“In the UK, hunger impacts 8.4 million people – that’s the rough equivalent to London’s entire population – while 1.9 million tonnes of food is waste by the food industry every year. Food waste is one of the root causes of hunger around the world, alongside extreme poverty and conflict” ODDBOX 2020
The vast majority of us take our food for granted. We buy and consume what we want and rarely consider where it’s come from or where it goes (well, hopefully that’s changed at least a bit in the last few years). Well, luckily, there’s a lot of ways that we can reduce our waste and environmental impact associated with food (and many ways to get involved in reducing UK and World Hunger).
Addressing Global Hunger
The UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 is Zero Hunger – the full title is end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The focus is on ending hunger and ensuring access to nutritious food for all whilst considering the enviro-socio-economic impact of ways nations propose to do this. Things you can do to support Goal 2:
- End Hunger UK run campaigns on issue like fixing Universal Credit in need of campaigners
- Greater Manchester Food Poverty Alliance has an action plan which contains some pointers of things different groups of people can do
- Support your local food bank either by donating (we have a collection point within the shop) or volunteering. Find a list of Manchester here and elsewhere Trussell Trust or Food Aid Network
- Daily shopping; is the product ethical, do the farmers get their fair share, how has the food been grown?
Sustainable Swaps to Reduce Food Waste
1. Storage - store food appropriately. Whether that’s your fridge, cupboards or freezer get to know what your food needs in order to stay fresher for longer. Opt for jars or reusable containers- preferably ones you accumulated rather than going out and buying new
2. Beeswax Wraps - cling film is deceiving in that we think it makes life simpler when alternatives produce the same amount of convenience, but without the plastic! You can use beeswax wraps in the fridge or on the go. They are compostable, reusable and easy to make at home if you fancy it. There are also vegan alternatives that use jojoba oil instead of beeswax for you vegan folk out there!
3. Silicone Lids - similar to beeswax wraps, silicone lids are reusable. Some are flexible to fit over any size bowl or container whilst others are made for generic kitchen items like tin cans
4. Say no to take away/ready meals – avoid the cop out of take away and ready meals that are not good for your wallet, your health or the environment with all that waste they produce!
5. Compost food waste – if you produce any food waste try to use food composting facilities where possible, whether that’s in your garden, using a community compost (e.g. Platt Fields), or start a kobashi box
6. Reuse coffee grounds – if you’re not composting then reusing coffee grounds is great as a body scrub
7. Apps – there are some great food apps like Olio and Too Good To Go which helps reduce food waste on so many levels and aids the old student budget when free or cheap. Olio particularly is great as it’s a place where you can take and give meaning you reduce someone else’s environmental impact and reduce yours! The goodness just goes round and round!
2. Beeswax Wraps - cling film is deceiving in that we think it makes life simpler when alternatives produce the same amount of convenience, but without the plastic! You can use beeswax wraps in the fridge or on the go. They are compostable, reusable and easy to make at home if you fancy it. There are also vegan alternatives that use jojoba oil instead of beeswax for you vegan folk out there!
3. Silicone Lids - similar to beeswax wraps, silicone lids are reusable. Some are flexible to fit over any size bowl or container whilst others are made for generic kitchen items like tin cans
4. Say no to take away/ready meals – avoid the cop out of take away and ready meals that are not good for your wallet, your health or the environment with all that waste they produce!
5. Compost food waste – if you produce any food waste try to use food composting facilities where possible, whether that’s in your garden, using a community compost (e.g. Platt Fields), or start a kobashi box
6. Reuse coffee grounds – if you’re not composting then reusing coffee grounds is great as a body scrub
7. Apps – there are some great food apps like Olio and Too Good To Go which helps reduce food waste on so many levels and aids the old student budget when free or cheap. Olio particularly is great as it’s a place where you can take and give meaning you reduce someone else’s environmental impact and reduce yours! The goodness just goes round and round!
Photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash
Cutting Out Plastic!
1. Buy loose fruit and veg - packaging can be misleading as some forms actually aid food preservation such as shrink wrapped cucumbers out of season, which allows it to stay fresher for longer. But anything with netting or holes in the back is really not needed- if there’s a loose version go for it!
2. Bulk buy – not only does this save ££ down the line it also means a reduction in plastic content
3. BYO Bag – an oldie but a goldie! Don’t mess around with those single use bags of supermarkets and general stores, carry a tote or spare bag on you. They take up hardly any space – mine stays in my pocket!
4. Swap plastic for glass or tin – if you’re purchasing food items that have the choice of two forms of packaging then opt for the most widely and infinitely recycled. E.g. honey or pasta sauce in glass rather than plastic, fizzy drinks in a can rather than a bottle
5. Refills - make use of refill services near you, whether that’s zero waste shops, milk delivery, printer ink or community soil. All of these help you be sustainable in different ways
6. Tea – get on that loose leaf tea train you won’t regret it! Alternatively if you’re not ready to change that part of your life then lucky for you some big brands are adjusting their tea bag production to create compostable options
7. Coffee – opt for bulk, beans and grind them at home, or simply just ensure your coffee is fair trade. Ditch the coffee pods, or where available opt in with the new eco reusable pod scheme. Percolators and cafetieres are great to avoid the need for filter paper but there are reusable filters out there!
8. Choose bakery - choose fresh from a bakery – even just a supermarket bakery
9. Get cheffing – make your own. Perhaps with spare veg or purpose bought ingredients you could make your own pasta sauce or other item to reduce waste and increase the percentage of your food that is actually food and not air or water!
10. Say no to straws/napkins - if you don’t need, it don’t take one! If you do need it for accessibility go right ahead. If you can, opt for alternatives like paper, metal, bamboo etc.
11. BYO bottle and mug - use your own mug and water bottle where possible. In COVID times some cafes have decided that washing mugs it too much of an effort (don’t worry that’s not us!) but where you can bring these items with you
12. Bin bags – use compostable bin liners. Just a little sorry note when you send your rubbish to landfill
2. Bulk buy – not only does this save ££ down the line it also means a reduction in plastic content
3. BYO Bag – an oldie but a goldie! Don’t mess around with those single use bags of supermarkets and general stores, carry a tote or spare bag on you. They take up hardly any space – mine stays in my pocket!
4. Swap plastic for glass or tin – if you’re purchasing food items that have the choice of two forms of packaging then opt for the most widely and infinitely recycled. E.g. honey or pasta sauce in glass rather than plastic, fizzy drinks in a can rather than a bottle
5. Refills - make use of refill services near you, whether that’s zero waste shops, milk delivery, printer ink or community soil. All of these help you be sustainable in different ways
6. Tea – get on that loose leaf tea train you won’t regret it! Alternatively if you’re not ready to change that part of your life then lucky for you some big brands are adjusting their tea bag production to create compostable options
7. Coffee – opt for bulk, beans and grind them at home, or simply just ensure your coffee is fair trade. Ditch the coffee pods, or where available opt in with the new eco reusable pod scheme. Percolators and cafetieres are great to avoid the need for filter paper but there are reusable filters out there!
8. Choose bakery - choose fresh from a bakery – even just a supermarket bakery
9. Get cheffing – make your own. Perhaps with spare veg or purpose bought ingredients you could make your own pasta sauce or other item to reduce waste and increase the percentage of your food that is actually food and not air or water!
10. Say no to straws/napkins - if you don’t need, it don’t take one! If you do need it for accessibility go right ahead. If you can, opt for alternatives like paper, metal, bamboo etc.
11. BYO bottle and mug - use your own mug and water bottle where possible. In COVID times some cafes have decided that washing mugs it too much of an effort (don’t worry that’s not us!) but where you can bring these items with you
12. Bin bags – use compostable bin liners. Just a little sorry note when you send your rubbish to landfill
13. Doggy bag – I
never understand what’s so appealing about calling it a doggy bag, but
bring containers or ask for your leftovers to be packaged to take home
when dining out
Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash
Sourcing Ethical Food
1. Veg box – luckily, in Manchester, we have the veg box people on hand delivering fresh local seasonal veg meaning that we eat produce that’s in surplus and not scarcity.
2. Buy local – as well as reducing transport impact, you’re supporting the local economy and “real people” rather than large corporations with questionable ethics
3. Meat – reduce your meat intake. It’s well known that the meat industry is out of balance when it comes to its excessive land use compared with how much of our diets feature meat. Consider meat-free Mondays. If you are going to buy meat ensure it is from ethical, UK, butcher-approved companies.
4. Palm oil – reduce your consumption of palm oil products. It’s not that palm oil is bad, it’s actually a top candidate for oils when it comes to yield-per-acre, it’s more that unsustainable practices of trying to supply the demand for palm oil has had devastating environmental and socio-economic impacts
5. Air miles – where possible buy local but in the UK seasonal veg limits things to root veg and a lot of kale for most of the year so of course we will indulge in our neighbouring climate’s produce. Opt for produce that has travelled the least out of the options available e.g. tomatoes from Spain rather than Morocco. This will reduce the carbon emissions associated with your meal
6. Alcohol – support your UK wines, beers and spirits. There’s actually more to offer than you would expect and in my experience can be more yummy… Manchester Gin Company is very good
7. Milk – plant milk is on the rise and produces significantly fewer carbon emissions than dairy. Each plant milk has its pros and cons – some use more land, others more water, others more air miles etc. But all are much better than regular milk when it comes to the environment
8. Eggs - like with meat, it would be great to reduce your egg and dairy consumption but going vegan isn’t a must. If you’re still buying eggs (and have an obliging family/housemates) consider getting some chickens in the garden for back door produce, or simply only buy free range eggs – never eggs from caged hens!
9. Getting to the supermarket - car share, use public transport or even better run, cycle, or walk! You don’t always have control with what you buy and where you buy it from, but we often can address our method of travel
10. Recycle – if you can’t get something package free then ensure to be responsible with the waste associated with it
2. Buy local – as well as reducing transport impact, you’re supporting the local economy and “real people” rather than large corporations with questionable ethics
3. Meat – reduce your meat intake. It’s well known that the meat industry is out of balance when it comes to its excessive land use compared with how much of our diets feature meat. Consider meat-free Mondays. If you are going to buy meat ensure it is from ethical, UK, butcher-approved companies.
4. Palm oil – reduce your consumption of palm oil products. It’s not that palm oil is bad, it’s actually a top candidate for oils when it comes to yield-per-acre, it’s more that unsustainable practices of trying to supply the demand for palm oil has had devastating environmental and socio-economic impacts
5. Air miles – where possible buy local but in the UK seasonal veg limits things to root veg and a lot of kale for most of the year so of course we will indulge in our neighbouring climate’s produce. Opt for produce that has travelled the least out of the options available e.g. tomatoes from Spain rather than Morocco. This will reduce the carbon emissions associated with your meal
6. Alcohol – support your UK wines, beers and spirits. There’s actually more to offer than you would expect and in my experience can be more yummy… Manchester Gin Company is very good
7. Milk – plant milk is on the rise and produces significantly fewer carbon emissions than dairy. Each plant milk has its pros and cons – some use more land, others more water, others more air miles etc. But all are much better than regular milk when it comes to the environment
8. Eggs - like with meat, it would be great to reduce your egg and dairy consumption but going vegan isn’t a must. If you’re still buying eggs (and have an obliging family/housemates) consider getting some chickens in the garden for back door produce, or simply only buy free range eggs – never eggs from caged hens!
9. Getting to the supermarket - car share, use public transport or even better run, cycle, or walk! You don’t always have control with what you buy and where you buy it from, but we often can address our method of travel
10. Recycle – if you can’t get something package free then ensure to be responsible with the waste associated with it
Photo by Jonathan Hanna on Unsplash
Get Farming!
1. Grow your own – if you have the space or access to a public allotment try growing your own veg. Reduces fertiliser use, carbon impact, air miles and plastic packaging. tick tick tick
2. Share – if you are successful in your veggie growing and have surplus share and swap with friends and neighbours
3. Regrow – regrow your veg from home. If you’ve got access to a garden then there’s greater potential for successful regrowth but there are many low maintenance veg that can be regrown in a jar of water alone, or followed with a small pot of soil on the window sill. E.g. I’ve regrown my spring onions in a jar of water
4. Bees - if you’re a rural dweller this might be more accessible to you than others. Perhaps consider joining up with some neighbors and investing in beekeeping. Bees are vital to the survival of our planet so whether you use their produce or not this is an environmentally helpful hobby!
This is by no means a full complete list but just a quick fire range of things to think about. It is NOT a checklist - think about what you already do and think about whether food is something which you’re in a position to make more sustainable. Perhaps you’re working on your energy use or maybe you’re already addressing food waste and can’t take on any more food related tips. THAT’S OKAY! Likewise, if you’re ready to take on a couple sustainable food tips then go for it! Email, comment here or get in touch via Facebook or Instagram if you have questions about any particular tip and we will be happy to chat more with you. As always, tag us in your adventures or send privately – we love hearing about your trials and triumphs!
Author: Holly
2. Share – if you are successful in your veggie growing and have surplus share and swap with friends and neighbours
3. Regrow – regrow your veg from home. If you’ve got access to a garden then there’s greater potential for successful regrowth but there are many low maintenance veg that can be regrown in a jar of water alone, or followed with a small pot of soil on the window sill. E.g. I’ve regrown my spring onions in a jar of water
4. Bees - if you’re a rural dweller this might be more accessible to you than others. Perhaps consider joining up with some neighbors and investing in beekeeping. Bees are vital to the survival of our planet so whether you use their produce or not this is an environmentally helpful hobby!
This is by no means a full complete list but just a quick fire range of things to think about. It is NOT a checklist - think about what you already do and think about whether food is something which you’re in a position to make more sustainable. Perhaps you’re working on your energy use or maybe you’re already addressing food waste and can’t take on any more food related tips. THAT’S OKAY! Likewise, if you’re ready to take on a couple sustainable food tips then go for it! Email, comment here or get in touch via Facebook or Instagram if you have questions about any particular tip and we will be happy to chat more with you. As always, tag us in your adventures or send privately – we love hearing about your trials and triumphs!
Author: Holly
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