Kiwis throw out an average 100,000 tonnes worth of food every year. This March, Love Food Hate Waste Aotearoa NZ is calling for households to be aware of the food they’re wasting and take simple steps to reduce it.

Love Food Hate Waste’s Sarah Pritchett said the estimated value of food waste per New Zealand household is worth about $1520 per year. Nationally this equates to $3.1 billion of food wasted food.

“Around a third of the food produced globally is lost or wasted. Food waste has a real impact on our climate, and it is something that every household can take action on,” Sarah said.

“The devastating impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle on our food producers and the flow on effect on food prices emphasises the urgent need for households to think about how they use their food. Maybe you want to give meal planning a go, or learn about better ways to store produce to keep it fresher longer, or just be creative when using up leftovers. Every small action makes a difference!"

#FoodWasteActionWeek began in the UK in 2021 in support of the UN Sustainable Development goal 12.3 to halve food waste by 2030.

This year’s theme is Win. Don't Bin and it will demonstrate how valuable food is in our lives, how it unites people and how using up everything we buy saves money, time and the planet.

“The main aim of this theme is to help people use up leftovers in safe and delicious ways” Sarah said.

“Leftovers are sometimes undervalued but are a fantastic tool in reducing food waste and your food bills!"

Keep an eye on the Love Food Hate Waste Facebook and Instagram page over the week for great recipes for leftovers, and take our quiz to help you discover tips on how to use up food you’ve already got at home!

Find out more here: https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/food-waste-action-week-2023/

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