Welcome to shelfwiki

Welcome to Shelfwiki! Here, we’re on a mission to empower individuals and communities to reduce food waste by understanding and extending the shelf life of their groceries. At Shelfwiki, we believe that knowledge is the key to minimizing waste and maximizing the use of every ingredient in your kitchen. Our platform is dedicated to providing comprehensive insights, practical tips, and science-backed information about food shelf life. Join us in our commitment to a sustainable future, one where every meal is savored and food waste becomes a thing of the past!

Food waste is a significant global issue with profound environmental, economic, and social implications. Understanding the scale of the problem is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate it.

Global Food Waste Statistics:

Total Volume: In 2022, approximately 1.05 billion tonnes of food were wasted worldwide across retail, food service, and household sectors. United Nations Environment Programme
Per Capita Waste: The average amount of food waste per person was estimated at 132 kg, with households contributing about 79 kg per capita. Statista
Proportion of Food Wasted: Roughly 19% of food available to consumers was wasted across retail, food services, and households. Statista

Food Waste in Sweden:

Total Food Waste: In 2022, Sweden generated approximately 1.2 million tonnes of solid food waste, equating to 117 kg per person. Including food and drinks poured down the drain in households, the total was about 1.4 million tonnes. Europeiska kommissionen
Household Contribution: Households are significant contributors to food waste in Sweden, with ongoing efforts to reduce this through public awareness and policy initiatives.

Environmental Impact:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The production of food that is ultimately wasted contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change. Instacart
Resource Consumption: Food waste represents a substantial waste of resources, including water, energy, and labor, used in food production, processing, and distribution.

Efforts to Reduce Food Waste:

Global Initiatives: The United Nations has set a target to halve per capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels by 2030, as part of Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. United Nations Environment Programme
Sweden’s Targets: Sweden aims to reduce total food waste by at least 20% per capita from 2020 to 2025, with strategies focusing on increasing the share of produced food reaching consumers and reducing losses along the supply chain. Naturvårdsverket

Addressing food waste requires a collaborative effort involving governments, industries, and consumers. By implementing effective measurement, raising awareness, and adopting sustainable practices, significant progress can be made toward reducing food waste and its associated impacts.

Sources:

https://time.com/7013480/food-waste-recycle-sweden/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/comment-tackling-huge-problem-food-loss-starts-with-equipping-growers-measure-it-2024-08-28/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.ft.com/content/1f89c6af-abd4-4874-81d1-fae9d3a92a11?utm_source=chatgpt.com