Reducing food waste: the habits that work
A sizeable part of our shopping ends up in the bin without us noticing: some milk here, a salad there. Here are the habits that cut waste, without making life complicated.
General guidance for a fridge at 0–4 °C and a freezer at −18 °C. Always follow the instructions on the pack and, when in doubt, throw it out.
Before shopping
- Check what you have in the fridge, freezer and pantry.
- Make a list with the next few days' meals in mind.
- Beware of offers on fresh food: three for two only pays if you eat them.
When you get home
- Put what expires first at the front and new shopping at the back.
- Freeze right away what you won't use soon: meat, fish, bread.
- Store everything in the right area of the fridge.
During the week
- Check dates coming up and cook starting from those.
- Make the right portions, and turn leftovers into omelettes, meatballs, soups.
- Remember the difference between «use by» and «best before».
Measure to improve
Noting what you throw away, and what it was worth, is the fastest way to change habits: after a few weeks you see at once where waste builds up.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most effective habit against waste?
Checking what you have before shopping and eating first the products that expire first.
Is freezing food worth it to avoid waste?
Yes: freezing right away what you won't use soon is one of the simplest ways not to throw it out.
How do I know how much food I waste?
Note what you throw away and its value for a few weeks: the purchases to cut back show up at once.
What is your waste worth?
ConservoCibo warns you before dates run out and, if you like, keeps track of value: see what you have at home and what you threw away in the last 30 days.
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