Christmas New Year celebrations festivities means over the top food selection elaborate and opulent displays at buffets brunches luncheons dinners. Many have the attitude because they have paid they have the right to waste! Food wastage is one of the most critical problems the UAE faces, especially during festivities like Christmas, New Year, Ramadan, Diwali not to forget the wedding season! The demand for food during these times increases by almost 50%, sadly, almost one-third of this ends up as waste! In today’s throwaway one up man ship society food wastage, to the fancy packaging ‘disposable’ plastic is a major environmental concern which affect us all!
When we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, package and transport it. According to Dubai Carbon, The decomposition process of food waste emits methane gas, which is reportedly 25 times more damaging than CO2.Food wastage is generated across the different stages of the food value chain, including transportation, either by air, land or sea, as well as packaging.
Packaging materials are the first to consume virgin resources that often are only applied for esthetic purposes and may not be recycled. Methane emissions from landfills represent the largest source of GHG emissions from the entire waste sector, contributing around 700 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year……The statistics are alarming!
Each of us needs to take responsibility to Reduce, Re-use Recycle. Often we prioritize convenience over effort i.e. being lazy! Survey reveals most people have food delivered home more than once a week and order too much in restaurants! The booming food takeaway industry has long been guilty of unsustainable practices with food packaging, employing wasteful practices when serving/delivering food to customers!
The most wasteful practice with food packaging is that the brands selling food offer or include items people don’t use. Whether wrapping food in foil, offering paper packets or plastic utensils, or putting the takeaway food containers in plastic bags, food packaging involves a lot of products that customers will instantly dispose of post-delivery.
Food amounts to 40% of the average household bin, there are many options to better manage excess food. Food waste generally occurs because of a lack of awareness, damaging social norms,l aziness, wasteful behavior.
Everyday Solutions To reduce waste
Currently, only 20% of fruits and vegetables consumed in the UAE are grown locally; the rest are imported from around the world. These fresh fruits and vegetablesgrown around the world are stored for days and have lengthy transport time before they reach UAE supermarket shelves. This means reduced freshness and a higher carbon footprint.
Choosing to buy vegetables grown in the UAE supports local farmers and the local economy, provides food security, and contributes to a lower carbon footprint.The UAE government has implemented several policies to support farmers and agricultural production including investing in modern agriculture technologies, promoting local farming, and reducing water consumption in agriculture. Additionally, the UAE has established partnerships with other countries to exchange knowledge and expertise in the field of agriculture.These efforts have led to a significant increase in local food production As a resident of the UAE since 1996 having bought all imported fruits and vegetables,I am thrilled to buy local, fresh full of nutrients vegetables!
Going into 2024 lets all become more aware, of our Habits and Attitudes… Habitudes
Revisit our Food habits
Rethink our Attitudes
Recycle Reuse Regenerate
Sandi Saksena
A multiple award winner Sandi Saksena is A Tor – Femtor Editor Negotiator, Motivator, Facilitator, Orator, Commentator, Moderator, …… All that and more. She offers all of the above to people who want more out of their lives …… Money, Career, Relationships, Health Wellness.
