Stop Food Waste Day: A Call to Action Against Food Waste

Food is a precious resource that should not be wasted. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of food is lost in Switzerland every year. April 26 is "Stop Food Waste Day" - an occasion to raise awareness about the problem and encourage us all to do our part to reduce food waste.

2.8 million tonnes of food end up in waste

According to estimates by the Federal Office for the Environment, around 2.8 million tonnes of food are wasted in Switzerland every year. This corresponds to approximately 330 kg of avoidable food loss per person per year. Of this, around 1.3 million tonnes are attributed to households and 1.5 million tonnes to the food industry, retail, and catering. The majority of the wasted food is still edible and often ends up in the trash unnecessarily.

The destroyed food has not only an ecological but also a financial value. According to a 2020 study by the University of Bern, the financial value of wasted food in Switzerland amounts to around 3.6 billion francs per year. These are enormous costs that could be avoided if we all handled food more consciously.

5 tips on how you can reduce or even avoid food waste

There are many ways we as individuals can help reduce or even avoid food waste. Here are five tips:

• Shop more consciously: Good planning when shopping can help us buy only what we really need. A shopping list can also be helpful. Buying seasonal and regional food can also help reduce food waste.
• Store properly: Proper food storage is also important to extend shelf life and reduce waste. We should follow the information on the packaging or the recommendations of experts.
• Use leftovers: Food that is no longer needed should not automatically end up in the trash. Instead, it can be used as ingredients for new dishes or frozen to use later.
• Share leftovers: If you have cooked too much, you can share the extra meals with friends or family or take them to work the next day.
• Madame Frigo: With more than 110 public refrigerators, Madame Frigo offers the Swiss population a practical and easy way to reduce their own food waste. The concept is simple: What you no longer need, you put in the refrigerator and take what you are currently missing at home.

A Madame Frigo refrigerator in Bern: Here you can deposit the food you no longer need. And take what you are currently missing.

Institutions in Switzerland that you can support with food

In Switzerland, there are various institutions that you can support with food. Here are some examples:

• Tischlein deck dich: The organization distributes donated food to people in need in Switzerland.
• Schweizer Tafel: Schweizer Tafel collects surplus food from supermarkets, bakeries, and other companies and distributes it to social institutions that pass it on to people in need.
• Foodsharing Schweiz: Here, private individuals can pass on surplus food to other people free of charge or pick it up.
• Secondhand platforms: On platforms like Too Good To Go or Flashfood, restaurants and food stores can offer their surplus food at discounted prices to reduce waste.

Help minimize food waste!

Food waste not only has ecological impacts, but also financial and social consequences. However, each of us can do our part to reduce waste by shopping more consciously, storing food properly, and using leftovers. Supporting institutions that pass food on to people in need can also make a big difference. You can find more information on the website of "Stop Food Waste".

We want to encourage you to think on this "Stop Food Waste Day" about how you can help reduce or avoid food waste. Every small step counts, and together we can make a big difference!