Food Wastage in Australia: The Staggering Truth

Every year, month, week and day, Australians gather around tables to savor delicious meals. As we do this, there is a sinister truth that lurks behind the scenes. A global issue that is occurring at an alarming rate: Food Wastage. 

This blog isn’t intended to make you feel bad by reading it, but making it known that it is a significant issue happening that we are too blind to see. In this short article, we will be sharing with you the staggering statistics of food wastage in Australia and how we, as a community can play our part in making a difference. 

According to the Australian Government, the ‘National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study’ reported that:

• Each year Australians waste around 7.6 million tonnes of food across the food supply chain. This equals about 312kg per person!
• Food Waste costs the Australian Government around 36.6 billion each year

You can visit the study here: https://www.fial.com.au/sharing-knowledge/food-waste 

These two shocking statistics should be enough to make us realize the amount of times we have also carelessly wasted food. However, it is important to note that these statistics aren’t just made up of just individual households but the various stages of the food supply chain. This includes production, distribution and retail. The most common problems include overproduction, cosmetic standards and improper storage. 

Fortunately, there are a myriad of ways to assist the issue such as:

Consumer Awareness: Increasing consumer awareness about the impacts of food waste and providing information on reducing wastage at the household level has been a focus of many efforts.

Food Rescue Organisations: Several organizations in Australia work to rescue surplus food from various sources and distribute it to those in need. These organizations play a crucial role in reducing both food waste and food insecurity.

Legislation and Policies. Some Australian states and territories have introduced regulations and policies to tackle food waste. For instance, the New South Wales government introduced the "Love Food Hate Waste" campaign to educate citizens about reducing food wastage.

At EQ, you should all know by now that our ultimate mission is to solve world hunger. As a brand, it is imperative for us to follow our ethos with integrity and honesty. That is why for every calorie bought, an equal amount is donated. We donate our calories in the form of our own product, partnering up with charities such as Food Buffet, Swag Family, CUDL and purchasing essential needs that go directly to them. Every Sunday, we venture to Martin Place in Sydney to make sure we follow through with our word. 

As a collective, we extend an invitation to you to join us on our mission to eradicate global hunger. There are diverse avenues for engagement, whether that involves backing our projects or opting for EQ Food items. Regardless of your actions or contributions, you play an indispensable role in our endeavor.

You Eat, We Donate.

References:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/30/food-waste-from-australian-households-tops-2k-a-year-study-finds

https://www.foodbank.org.au/food-waste-facts-in-australia/?state=nsw-act

 https://www.fial.com.au/sharing-knowledge/food-waste