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Tackling Food Waste: SA’s role in fighting climate change

As we mark World Environmental Health Day on 26 September, the link between food waste and climate change takes centre stage.

While climate action is urgent on many fronts, one major contributor often overlooked is food waste. Globally, a staggering one-third of all food produced goes to waste, contributing significantly to climate change.

When food waste decomposes in landfills, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Shockingly, food waste is responsible for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In South Africa, the problem is particularly alarming, with over 10 million tonnes of edible food wasted each year. The environmental cost is immense, with resources like water, land, energy, and labour being wasted alongside the food itself.

At FoodForward SA (FFSA), we are tackling this issue head-on. Their innovative food banking model rescues surplus food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers before it ends up in landfills. This surplus food is then stored and redistributed to local non-profits across the country.

By redirecting perfectly edible food away from landfills, FFSA not only reduces waste but also slashes the environmental impact of food disposal. In the past year, FFSA’s efforts have saved 113,152 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions — the equivalent of taking over 88,000 cars off South Africa’s roads for a year. For every tonne of food they recover, they prevent 5.2 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Instead of focusing on producing more food, we need to focus on using our resources wisely and reducing waste,” says Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FFSA. “Combating climate change through solutions like food banking is critical to building a sustainable future.”

As South Africa grapples with food insecurity, at FFSA we understand that fighting food waste is not just about feeding people—it’s about taking meaningful action to combat climate change.

Simple Solutions to Tackle South Africa's Food Waste Crisis

As we approach the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) on 29 September, the pressing issue of food loss and waste in South Africa demands attention. Each year, over 10 million tonnes of food are discarded, severely impacting the country’s food security. Of the 31 million tonnes of food produced annually, a third is never eaten—further exacerbating South Africa’s ongoing food insecurity and climate crisis.

In 2023, the cost-of-living crisis, skyrocketing food prices, high unemployment rates, and deepening inequality have left 15% of the population—roughly 9.34 million people—facing hunger.

“We produce enough food in South Africa to feed everyone,” says Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward SA (FFSA). “Yet, a large portion of our food never reaches the consumer because of various supply chain dynamics across the food production and distribution system.”

To further combat food waste at the household level and reduce the amount of food ending up in landfills, Du Plessis offers some simple, effective tips:

  1. Plan your weekly meals: Carefully plan meals and purchase only what you need to avoid overbuying and wasting food.
  2. Know the difference between “best before” and “use by” dates: Understanding these labels helps reduce unnecessary disposal of food that is still safe to eat.
  3. Store food properly: Keep perishable items in the right conditions to extend their shelf life.
  4. Donate excess food: Share surplus produce with neighbours, local food banks, or soup kitchens, ensuring it reaches those who need it most.
  5. Compost organic waste: Instead of discarding fruit and vegetable peels, repurpose them into compost for gardens.

Food systems globally account for an estimated 60% of global methane emissions, and food loss and waste related emissions account for 20% of this, which is driving climate change.

The fight against food loss and waste can make a real difference in reducing food insecurity and malnutrition.

This International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, FFSA encourages individuals and those within the food system to take the necessary actions toward minimising food waste and maximising impact.

Earth Day: How Food Banking Helps Reduce Climate Change

This Earth Day (22 April), FoodForward South Africa (FFSA) is highlighting the crucial role that surplus food recovery plays in combating global warming. Highlighting the urgent need to address the fact that one-third of all food produced globally ultimately goes to waste.

As we commemorate Earth Day, a startling statistic emerges: Food waste is responsible for a staggering 8-10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a significant contributor to climate change often overshadowed by the focus on fossil fuels. In South Africa, the problem is particularly acute, with over 10 million tonnes of food wasted each year.

This Earth Day, FoodForward South Africa (FFSA) is highlighting the crucial role that surplus food recovery plays in combating this often-ignored driver of global warming. Highlighting the urgent need to address the fact that one-third of all food produced globally ultimately goes to waste.

Food waste ends up in landfills where it decomposes and releases methane gas, which is more potent and detrimental to the environment than carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

FFSA recovers surplus food from farmers, food manufacturers and retailers and redistributes it timeously to beneficiary organisations across the country to combat food insecurity and malnutrition – ultimately ensuring quality food doesn’t unnecessarily contribute to GHG emissions.

The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), is piloting a groundbreaking, data-driven methodology that measures the total avoided emissions because of food banking activities. The Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME) methodology tracks CO2 and methane emissions avoided by food banks, as well as their role in reducing food loss, improving food access and addressing food insecurity.

In 2021, GFN recovered over 514, 537 metric tons of surplus food, feeding 39 million people, and effectively mitigating 1.695 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalents. Similarly, in 2022, FFSA commissioned a report to quantify the reduction of GHG emissions due to their food banking programmes. The study by Greenhouse Consultants found that FFSA saved nearly half a million tonnes of CO2 equivalents emitted into the atmosphere annually. For every ton of food recovered FFSA saves 5.2 tonnes of GHG emissions.

Building on this foundation, FFSA has been selected to participate in phase 2 of the GFN FRAME Methodology Pilot with a view to implementing the FRAME Methodology across its food banking network in South Africa and enabling the accurate tracking of methane avoided from landfill.

“Food producers and retailers must prioritise timeously identifying and donating surplus food to charities and food banks,” says Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FFSA.

“It’s crucial for reducing food insecurity and malnutrition and reducing the climate impacts of food loss and waste.”  With the support of GFN, and data from the FRAME methodology pilots, FFSA aims to propel food banking to the forefront, as an effective mitigation measure in the fight against climate change.