Have you ever bought food with the intention of finishing it, only to end up throwing it away? Without realising it, this habit contributes to food waste. In fact, it is a problem that often goes unnoticed. So, what can we do to reduce food waste? Let’s check out the tips!

Example of food waste. Source: Freepik

The Importance of Reducing Food Waste 

Food wastewas the largest contributor to Indonesia’s waste in 2024. According to Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency, 40.91%  of Indonesia’s total waste consists of food scraps. This even surpasses plastic waste! Besides harming the environment, throwing away food also means wasting valuable resources such as water, energy, and labor used in its production.  

Reducing food waste has a significant positive impact  on various aspects of life. By minimising food loss and waste, resources that would have been discarded can instead be allocated to improving productivity and economic growth. Food availability can also increase, helping to combat hunger and malnutrition. Additionally, food waste significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, putting further pressure on natural resources such as land and water.  

Food production requires a vast amount of resources, including water, energy, and land. Reducing food waste can minimise waste and help us use these resources more efficiently.  
 

Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste  

Reducing food waste isn’t just about saving leftover food, it’s about adopting a wiser and more sustainable lifestyle. With better planning and more mindful consumption habits, we can conserve food and reduce waste, positively impacting the environment.  

During Ramadan, managing food becomes even more challenging. However, by developing the right habits, we can enjoy suhur and iftar meals more wisely without generating excessive food waste. Here are some simple daily habits to help reduce food waste:  

1. Plan weekly menus to avoid buying unnecessary ingredients.