Food waste in households

What is Food Waste and Why is it Important to Reduce?

Food waste refers to food that is produced but never consumed. It is a major problem globally and locally, with serious economic and environmental consequences. Reducing food waste is crucial to creating a more sustainable future and preserving the Earth's resources.

Statistics on Food Waste in Swedish Households

Food waste is a significant challenge in Sweden. According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Swedish households throw away around 45 kg of edible food per person every year. This means that each household contributes to huge amounts of food going to waste, which corresponds to an economic loss of around SEK 20 billion annually.

How much food is wasted each year?

• Total food waste in Sweden: About 1.3 million tons per year
• Food waste per person: About 45 kg per year

Most Commonly Wasted Food Items

Food products	Percentage of waste
Fruit and vegetables	30%
Bread	20%
Meat products	15%
Dairy products	10%
Other foodstuffs	25%

Poor planning and buying habits

Many households buy more food than they need or do not plan their purchases effectively, leading to food being forgotten and losing its freshness before it is consumed.

Storage and Handling of Food

Brist på kunskap om korrekt förvaring av olika livsmedel leder till att mat förlorar sin hållbarhet snabbare. Till exempel bör vissa frukter och grönsaker förvaras separat för att förhindra övermognad. Optimala förvaring innebär att förvara maten i vakuum då man då kraftigt bromsar förruttnelseprocessen.

Best-before and use-by dates

Many consumers confuse 'best before' dates with 'use by' dates and throw away food that is still safe to eat. Understanding the difference can help reduce unnecessary food waste.

Consequences of food waste

Economic costs

Food waste means direct financial losses for households. By throwing away edible food, we waste money that could have been used more efficiently.

Environmental impact and climate footprint

The production of food that is never consumed results in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions and wastes water and other resources. According to the FAO, food waste accounts for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Solutions to Reduce Food Waste

Effective Planning and Purchasing

Plan meals and purchases carefully to avoid buying more food than necessary. Use shopping lists and plan for leftovers.

Proper Storage and Handling of Food

Lär dig hur olika livsmedel ska förvaras för att förlänga deras hållbarhet. Använd tekniker som vakuumförpackning så matlådor med vakuum funktion eller vakuum påsar för att hålla mat fräsch längre.

Use of vacuum food containers

Vacuum food containers can extend the shelf life of food up to five times, reducing food waste and saving money. Storing food in a vacuum reduces the risk of it going bad before it is consumed.

Summary: How You Can Help Reduce Food Waste

Matsvinn är ett omfattande problem med betydande ekonomiska och miljömässiga konsekvenser. Genom att förstå orsakerna till matsvinn och implementera effektiva lösningar som bättre planering, korrekt matförvaring av och användning av vakuum matlådor, kan vi alla bidra till en mer hållbar framtid.

National Food Agency

UN Global Goals 2030

EU