It’s no secret that rescuing surplus food can significantly reduce carbon emissions, making it a crucial strategy in addressing climate change. However, achieving this in the most efficient way, considering time, cost, social and environmental factors, and empowering local communities presents another set of challenges. As a general yet fundamental piece of advice, when planning your strategy to reduce food waste, you should consider two strategic goals: feeding people first (not landfills!) and becoming net zero.

Starting with the first strategic goal, you can rely on local charities whose mission is feeding people by collecting surplus food, like Plan Zheroes. On becoming net zero and following the path to reducing carbon emissions, it is important to know that when surplus food is rescued and redistributed instead of being wasted, several key environmental benefits occur. We have some examples for you below.

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

According to Carbon Brief, food waste generates significant greenhouse gases, particularly methane, which is over 25 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year period. In the UK, efforts to reduce food waste have contributed to a decrease in emissions. The UK’s emissions fell to 383 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2023, the lowest level since the 1870s​​.

Conservation of resources

Food production consumes considerable resources, including water, energy, and land. By rescuing surplus food, these resources are conserved, reducing the overall environmental footprint of food production. This conservation helps lower the emissions associated with growing, processing, and transporting food.

Reduced landfill emissions

When food waste is sent to landfills, it decomposes anaerobically, producing methane. Reducing food waste sent to landfills directly lowers these methane emissions. Initiatives such as those led by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) have been pivotal in reducing food system emissions in the UK​​.

Energy savings

Avoiding the need to produce new food reduces energy consumption across the entire supply chain, from farming to processing to distribution. This reduction in energy use translates to lower carbon emissions, further mitigating climate change impacts.

Now it’s time to measure your impact

Don’t you think all of these are valuable motivations? Just as donating and rescuing surplus food can reduce carbon emissions, there are many other factors and actions that you can take into account. You can start by measuring your impact and contacting organisations that offer carbon management solutions for businesses, just like Climabrite does.

They offer carbon accounting and management services for businesses of all sizes and types, with a simple three-step approach: they measure your footprint, help you create a carbon reduction plan aligned with Science Based Targets, and develop a strategy that utilises gold standard carbon removals to effectively compensate for emissions that cannot be avoided through your decarbonisation strategy.