FOR MANY people, cooking, eating, and sharing meals with loved ones are some of life’s greatest pleasures.
Yet, for those of us who are concerned with the health of the planet, cooking and eating aren’t without problems. The amount of waste created by food production and preparation is one of the greatest issues facing the sustainability of our food system.
At the same time, creative solutions to food waste are on the rise. Through efforts to compost food scraps and eliminate single-use plastics, restaurants, chefs, and sustainability organizations are testing out new ways to reduce food waste.
Zero-waste cooking is an action you can take in your home, too. With a bit of planning and practice, you can reduce waste from your meals and have a more sustainable kitchen.
What is zero-waste?
The notion of zero-waste cooking is just about as literal as it sounds — it means trying to leave behind as little food and packaging waste as possible when cooking and eating.
A zero-waste lifestyle can also extend past the kitchen. Some people apply similar waste-reducing concepts to clothing, beauty and wellness products, and more.
One way to think of zero-waste cooking is in terms of the old dictum “reduce, reuse, recycle.” It involves the following:
- Reduce. Use less of — or do without — unnecessary ingredients. Cook smaller portions to avoid excessive leftovers.
- Reuse. Repurpose food scraps instead of throwing them out. Use reusable containers to buy foods in bulk.
- Recycle. Compost leftover food scraps. Buy food from food rescue organizations that ensure that farmed produce doesn’t go to waste.
These are just a few of the steps you might take in a zero-waste kitchen.
Is it really possible?
It may not always be possible to eliminate every last bit of waste from your meals. The structure of our current food supply and the abundance of processed foods makes this task incredibly difficult.
Opponents of zero-waste even argue that this lifestyle isn’t realistic.
They believe that since some amount of waste is a necessary byproduct of economics and human consumption, it’s better to focus on managing waste efficiently instead of trying to eliminate it completely.
These arguments might sound convincing on the surface, but the truth is, working toward a zero-waste lifestyle isn’t about being perfect — none of us are. Very few people are able to completely eliminate waste from their lives.
Rather, zero-waste cooking is part of a greater movement to live sustainably and reduce your impact on the planet. It’s about doing the best you can with what resources you have available.
SUMMARY
There are many ways to live a zero-waste lifestyle. Zero-waste cooking is one avenue that chefs, foodies, families, and individuals alike use to reduce the environmental impact of preparing and eating food.
What are the benefits?
One of my favorite things about zero-waste cooking is that it feels like a decision that benefits so many people and places — my family, others in our community, and the planet.
I’ve noticed it can also help your pocketbook as you do more in the kitchen with less. Reducing your waste might mean giving up certain things you can do without or making dishes on your own rather than buying them premade, both of which can save you money.
What’s more, zero-waste cooking can be creative, experimental, and downright fun — though, in the end, the main reason why so many people are trying zero-waste cooking is because it’s a simple way to reduce their environmental impact.
Reduces food waste
Current estimations for how much food goes to waste each year are astounding.
Though it’s hard to pinpoint an exact number, researchers believe that businesses and individuals combined throw away as much as 25–40% of all the food produced in the United States each year.
That’s nearly 133 billion pounds (60.3 billion kg) of food — worth $161 billion.
In some cases, a single individual might waste up to 660 pounds (300 kg) of food over the course of 1 year.
By repurposing food scraps, doing your best to not let food spoil, and purchasing only as much as you need, you can cut down on your food waste.
Reduces your use of plastics and packaging
Zero-waste cooking also reduces waste from food packaging and serving containers, including takeout boxes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that more than 23% — or nearly a quarter — of all trash sent to landfills is packaging and containers, a significant amount of which is food-related, single-use plastics and other materials that aren’t often recycled (5).
Plus, much more waste from food packaging goes unaccounted for as litter that pollutes roads and waterways.
Zero-waste cooking reduces food packaging via tactics like using reusable containers to buy in bulk, preserving your own foods, using fewer ingredients, and making most of your meals at home.
- Healthline
