At Pulp Friction CIO, we pride ourselves on our ability to reimagine food, making the most of each ingredient to reduce our food waste. Food waste is a major contributor to climate change, and in UK households alone, we waste approximately 6 million tonnes of food every year.
So if you’re looking for simple ways to waste less at home, here are some practical tips to get started.
- Plan Before You Shop 🛒
- A quick check of your fridge, freezer and cupboards before heading to the shops can make a big difference.
- Write a shopping list (and stick to it where you can).
- Plan a few meals for the week ahead.
- Think about how ingredients can be used across more than one meal.
- Planning helps you buy what you need — and use what you already have.
- Get Creative with Leftovers 🍲
Leftovers don’t have to mean the same meal again. A roast dinner can become:
- A hearty soup or curry.
- A sandwich filling.
- A pasta or stir fry.
Vegetables that are slightly past their best can often be roasted, blended into sauces or added to casseroles, while soft fruit works well in smoothies, crumbles or baking. A little creativity can turn “waste” into something new and delicious.
- Make Friends with Your Freezer ❄️
- Your freezer is one of the best tools for reducing waste.
- Freeze bread before it goes stale.
- Portion and freeze leftover meals.
- Chop and freeze vegetables ready for future cooking.
- Labelling containers with dates can help you keep track of what needs using first.
- Understand Date Labels 🔍
It’s helpful to know the difference between:
- “Use by” – after this date, the food may be unsafe to eat.
- “Best before” – food may still be safe to eat after this date; it might just not be at its best quality.
Many foods are still perfectly good after their best-before date. Trust your senses, the look, smell and taste (if safe to do so) of food can give us a clear indication of whether it’s still good to eat.
- Serve Sensible Portions 🍽️
- Cooking or serving slightly smaller portions can reduce what ends up in the bin. You can always go back for seconds.
- If you regularly find food left on plates, it might be worth adjusting portion sizes or saving leftovers for lunch the next day.
- Compost What You Can 🐌
Some waste is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to go to landfill. Fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags and coffee grounds can be composted at home. If you don’t have outdoor space, look into local food waste collection schemes or small indoor compost systems.
Why Food Waste Matters
Reducing food waste saves money, lowers carbon emissions and helps us use resources more responsibly. It’s good for our homes, our communities and the environment. Read how we combat food waste at Pulp Friction!
If you try any of these tips, or have any tips of your own that we can try, we’d love to hear from you!
