Every year, Zero Waste Day arrives at the end of March and gives me and the team a friendly nudge to have a think about how much we throw away.
But let’s be real: reducing waste shouldn’t be a one-day event. With Aussies alone tossing out an eye-watering $3,800 worth of food every year*, it’s clear we can rethink our habits - not just for the planet, but for our wallets too!
So, what’s the game plan? The good news, making small shifts in how we buy, store, and use food can make a HUGE impact. Let’s dive into some easy, practical ways to make every day a little less wasteful (and a lot more delicious!).
Meal Prep Like a Pro (Without the Overwhelm)
If you’ve ever bought a bunch of fresh produce with the best intentions, only to find it sad and wilting in the fridge days later - we see you. Meal prepping is the ultimate hack to use what you have, save time, and cut down on waste. Here’s how to make it work for you:
- Plan before you shop – Take five minutes to jot down meals for the week and make a shopping list. No more impulse buys that end up in the bin!
- Use the FIFO method – No we don't mean flying out. First in, first out! Place older groceries at the front of the fridge and new ones at the back.
- Get friendly with your freezer – Chop up and freeze veggies, herbs, and leftovers before they turn questionable. Our Silicone Food Pouches & Freezer Moulds are great for storing this type of food.
- Portion it out – Batch cook and store meals in individual portions so nothing gets forgotten. Try out Meal Prep Containers for perfect portions.
- Get creative with scraps – Stale bread = croutons, Overripe bananas = banana bread (or smoothies!), Veggie peels = stock, try Sophie's Zero Waste Veggie Scrap Stock Recipe. Waste not, want not!
Easy Ways to Cut Waste at Home
Food waste is just one piece of the puzzle - there are plenty of other easy wins to make your home more sustainable.
Compost it! – If you’re not already composting, now’s the time. A kitchen compost bin makes it effortless to turn scraps into soil-nourishing gold. Here's our link to the Ultimate How To Compost Guide.
Ditch the disposables – Swap single-use plastics for Reusable Food Containers, Lunchware & Personal Care items.
Shop smart – Buying in bulk and choosing package-free produce cuts down on waste before it even enters your home. Win-Win!
Make cleaning green – Many household cleaners come in wasteful plastic bottles. Try refillable or DIY natural cleaning solutions!
The Ugly Truth: Household Waste Stats You Can’t Ignore
If we need a little extra motivation, the stats don't lie:
- 1 in 5 grocery bags end up in the bin - that’s equivalent to $3,800 worth of food per household per year.
- The average Aussie family throws away around 312kg of food annually. Crazy!
- Globally, one-third of all food produced is wasted, while millions go hungry. Something’s got to change!
Resources to Help You Waste Less
Luckily, there are some game-changing tools to help make reducing waste easier than ever:
Saveful App – Helps you plan meals and use up what you have before it goes bad.
Foodbank & OzHarvest – If you have excess food, donate it! These organisations redistribute food to those in need.
Zero Waste Recipe Sites – Websites like Love Food Hate Waste offer recipes that use up leftovers in clever ways.
Let’s Make Every Day Zero Waste Day!
Zero Waste Day is a great reminder, but it’s the everyday choices that really count. With a little planning and a fresh perspective, we can save money, eat better, and do our bit for the planet - one meal at a time.
So, who’s in? Let’s make wasted food (and wasted money!) a thing of the past.
Love Sophie xx
