How can we change the situation so that we do not throw away food after a delicious dinner because there was simply too much of it? Christmas meals are traditionally lavish feasts, where enjoying food is one of the main priorities.
A festive feast can also bring problems, one of the biggest being food waste. In Europe alone, approximately 88 million tonnes of food waste are generated every year. In the EU, more than half of the total volume of food waste 'originates' directly from households.
How can we ensure that we reduce the amount of waste during the holiday period, which is often associated with large quantities of purchased food?
Pierre Condamine at the organisation Zero Waste Europe is responsible for waste policy: “The best way to avoid throwing away food is to change your mindset.”
“The first piece of advice is to cook by precisely calculating how much food will be needed and adjusting recipes accordingly.”
P. Condamine believes that Christmas is a great time for solidarity; for example, it is possible to look for online food-sharing platforms or to donate surplus food to those in need.
“It is not just about individual things, it is about what everyone can do for the benefit of the community.”