…the first post of many on this topic.
When it comes to food sustainability, by far one of the biggest concerns is food waste — and for darn good reason.
The food system is a major global contributor to climate change, producing nearly one third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions planet-wide. A sizable portion of these emission are directly related to food waste. In fact, at least six percent of all global GHGs are related to the problem.
This is because when leftovers, unharvested crops, or rotten food is thrown in the trash, that waste creates a hefty amount of methane gas in the landfill. Methane is a super powerful GHG with up to 80 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.
On both a global and national scale, somewhere between 30 and 40 percent of the food supply is wasted.
While this is certainly problematic from an environmental standpoint, it presents an equally devastating humanitarian dilemma. Over 800 million people experience hunger globally and if we were to rescue the food wasted globally, it could feed that hungry population two times over. That definitely tops the list of most aggravating food statistics I’ve ever been privy to.
“Over 800 million people experience hunger globally and if we were to rescue the food wasted globally, it could feed that hungry population two times over.“
Thankfully, there are so many ways that we can tackle food waste both individually and as a society. I’m such an advocate for empowering people to take action in their own home, and food waste is one of the easiest large-scale problems that we can really move the needle on as individuals. This action is made all the easier through choosing the right products.
ZWILLING
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
This brings us to our highlighted brand for this post, Zwilling US! I must say, I absolutely love this brand of high-quality kitchen products, they offer nearly everything but the kitchen sink.
ZWILLING was first started in the mid 1700’s by Peter Henckels in Germany, making it one of the oldest brands in the world (beyond impressive). They embrace sustainability through a multi-faceted approach, committing food waste reduction, packaging and warehouse improvements, and carbon neutrality by 2030.
My favorite product line of the brand is the smart-design CUBE food storage containers. Zwilling offers nine sizes of food storage cubes that easily stack, mix, and match for simple storage in pantries or refrigerators of any size. But the best part is their vacuum technology used to pull air out of the storage containers, giving you that much more shelf life. If you know food, then you’re well aware that air is the enemy of freshness.
In fact, vacuum sealed food can have a shelf life three to five times longer than that of regular storage. Now that’s a powerful way to address food waste in your own kitchen.
Plus, these food containers are dishwasher and freezer safe and are conveniently clear, so you can remember what you’ve put in them! They are perfect for storing leftovers, dry goods, snacks, proteins, herbs, spices, and pretty much any other food item you can think of.
If you’re interested in trying them for yourself, click here!
Beyond their food storage containers, Zwilling also offers so many other kitchenwares that can help you to upcycle your food scraps and prevent waste at home, including:
- Electronics like blender, kettles, food scales, and toasters. Check out their refurbished electronics for deep discounts…plus we love product upcycling, too!
- Hearty cast iron cookware
- ZWILLING’s signature cutlery that put their name on the map
- Convenient kitchenwares like graters, spiralizers, and peelers
So while the conversation on food waste is only just getting started here on Sustain + Nourish, you now have some stats on the gravity of the problem and some effective products that can help you address it at home. Happy cooking!
