International Food Waste Day: Nowa Market Commits to a More Sustainable Future

A Critical Global Context

On September 29, 2023, the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is being observed amid major global challenges: climate change, economic instability, geopolitical conflicts, and rising food prices.

Currently, 13% of food is lost in the supply chain, and an additional 17% is wasted at the household, food service, and retail levels (FAO, 2023).

Faced with these alarming figures, it is more urgent than ever to adopt sustainable solutions and rethink our consumption habits to combat food waste.

Alarming Statistics: A Triple Impact

1. Environmental Impact 🌍

The agri-food sector is responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, leading to land degradation, excessive water consumption, and alarming biodiversity loss (FAO, 2021).

Furthermore, agriculture is increasingly affected by climate change-related natural disasters, threatening global food production.

By 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.6 billion, requiring the equivalent of three planet Earths in natural resources to sustain our current lifestyle (UN, Goal 12).

2. Social Impact 🤝

This population growth directly impacts global food security:

• In 2022, nearly 783 million people suffered from hunger (FAO et al., 2023).
• In 2021, 3.1 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet.

3. Economic Impact 💰

Each year, the European Union generates 59 million tons of food waste, averaging 131 kg per person, resulting in an economic loss of €132 billion (European Commission, 2023).

These figures highlight the importance of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste as a crucial opportunity to raise awareness and drive concrete actions.

5 Key Actions to Reduce Food Waste

1️⃣ Plan your meals and make a grocery list to buy only what you need, avoiding impulse purchases.
2️⃣ Buy perishable foods wisely: choose products according to your needs and store them properly to extend their shelf life.
3️⃣ Adjust portions and get creative with leftovers: serve smaller portions and repurpose leftovers into new dishes. For example, carrot tops can be turned into homemade pesto!
4️⃣ Donate surplus non-perishable food items to local charities.
5️⃣ Compost organic waste to reduce overall food waste and enrich the soil naturally.

Nowa Market: A Step Towards Sustainability

Nowa Market, a new start-up, promotes a zero-waste approach by offering food, cosmetics, and household products in returnable glass jars. This initiative drastically reduces packaging waste and aligns with the principles of the circular economy.

Although tackling food waste is different from achieving zero waste, both approaches share the same goal: minimizing waste at the source and reintegrating resources into the consumption cycle.

Additionally, Nowa Market supports responsible consumption by offering high-quality organic and local products. Through its webshop, customers can reconnect with producers, ensuring food is valued rather than wasted.

🔹 Flash sales are implemented to encourage the sale of products nearing their expiration date, preventing perfectly consumable items from being discarded.

Reducing food loss and waste is a shared responsibility. That’s why Nowa Market is committed to raising consumer awareness about their environmental impact and supporting small-scale initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable food system.

We firmly believe that together, we can drive positive change and transform our consumption habits for a more eco-responsible future.

Are you ready to take action? 🌱♻️