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Large amounts of good, edible ingredients go to waste every single day. It can be leftovers from dinner that are forgotten in the back of the fridge, or products in supermarkets that never get sold and therefore end up as waste.
Food waste is not only about buying less or producing less food. It is also about becoming better at using the ingredients we already have.
This is exactly the approach we work with at MATR. By giving vegetables from Nordic farms a new purpose, we want to help create a more responsible way of using our food resources.
In this article, we take a closer look at what food waste is, why it happens, how you can reduce food waste yourself, and how MATR works to minimise waste by making better use of available ingredients.
What is food waste and why is it a problem?
Allowing food to go to waste has unfortunately become a significant problem in many Danish households.
Food waste often happens in small everyday situations where food is not used as planned.
The yoghurt you really wanted from the supermarket but never managed to eat in time. The vegetables that were pushed to the back of the fridge drawer. Or the bread that became completely dry before you had the chance to use it for your children’s lunchboxes.
These examples may seem like small amounts of waste, but when combined, they quickly add up.
In fact, 881,000 tonnes of edible food are wasted in Denmark every year. Danish households account for 235,000 tonnes of food waste annually, according to The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
But why is food waste such a major issue?
When food is wasted, it is not only a financial loss for individual households. Food production has already required land, water, energy and transportation long before the food ends up in the bin. This means food waste also creates an unnecessary burden on the climate.
Fortunately, a large part of food waste can be prevented. The first step is understanding where and why it occurs.
How does food waste happen?
You might point the finger at yourself and know that you have a role to play in reducing food waste. However, there are several sources behind the problem. At MATR, we divide them into three main ones.
Food waste in Danish households
A large share of food waste happens right in your own kitchen as mentioned. Perhaps you buy more than you are able to use, forget leftovers at the back of the fridge, or throw food away because you are unsure about the date labels.
Food waste in retail and professional kitchens
Food waste also occurs before it reaches your home. Supermarkets need to keep shelves fully stocked, while canteens and professional kitchens often prepare meals for more people than actually show up. As a result, perfectly edible food may never be served or sold, even though the quality remains high.
Food waste in food production
Some food is wasted before it ever reaches the shops. Vegetables are often discarded because they do not meet expectations regarding size, shape or appearance. At MATR, we see great potential in making better use of these ingredients and giving them new life through fermentation instead of letting them go to waste.
Would you like to learn more about our approach to sustainability? Read more here.
Ways to reduce food waste in everyday life
You can help reduce food waste by introducing a few simple habits into your daily routine. Below, we have gathered some easy ways to make a difference and help ensure that less food goes to waste.
- Plan your meals. When you plan your meals in advance, you often only buy the ingredients you actually need. This helps prevent good food from being forgotten in the fridge and eventually thrown away.
- Only buy what you need. It can be tempting to buy in larger quantities, especially when there are offers available. But this often results in more food ending up in the bin than expected. Shop mindfully and choose ingredients you know you will use.
- Store your ingredients correctly. Proper storage can extend the shelf life of many foods. Make use of your fridge, freezer and food containers to keep your food fresh for longer.
- Use your freezer more often. Freeze leftovers, bread, vegetables or other ingredients before they go bad. This allows you to save food for another day when it can be enjoyed.
- Give leftovers a new purpose. Leftovers can easily become completely new meals. For example, leftover vegetables can be turned into soup. The only limit is simply your imagination.
- Choose products that make better use of ingredients. Support producers who focus on using the resources we already have in a smarter way. We specifically work to get more value from ingredients that are already available.
Help reduce food waste with MATR
At MATR, we have introduced three concrete initiatives to help reduce food waste. They are all reflected in the way we create our MATR products.
- First and foremost, we focus on using simple ingredients in our products. MATR is therefore made with only five organic ingredients. The sustainable idea behind this is that our vegetables go through minimal processing from the very beginning.
- Our products are created through fermentation. It is an ancient method that helps extend the shelf life of different foods. This approach allows us to minimise waste while making the most of every ingredient throughout the process.
- Last but not least, we believe that the appearance of an ingredient should not determine its value. Does a potato have a small mark? That does not necessarily affect its taste.
Vegetables that do not meet supermarket beauty standards can still develop incredible flavour through fermentation. At MATR, we make sure to use more of the crops grown by farmers instead of allowing imperfect vegetables to go to waste.
Try MATR and become part of our effort to reduce food waste. Continue exploring and learn more about our fermented vegetable products.
Frequently asked questions
Is food waste a problem in Denmark?
Yes, food waste is a significant problem in Denmark. Around 881,000 tonnes of food are wasted across the entire food supply chain every year, and households account for a large share of this waste, according to The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
What does food waste mean?
Food waste refers to food that could have been eaten by humans but is instead thrown away or discarded. It differs from food waste materials such as food scraps, which include inedible parts like banana peels and eggshells.
How can we reduce food waste?
Food waste can be reduced by planning purchases, storing food correctly, using leftovers and understanding the difference between “best before” and “use by” dates. Small changes in everyday habits can make a significant difference.
How much does food waste cost in Denmark?
Food waste costs the average Danish household several thousand kroner each year. For a family, the value of the food that is thrown away can often exceed 7,000 DKK annually.
What are the most common causes of food waste?
The most common causes are buying too much food, a lack of meal planning, incorrect storage, oversized portions and uncertainty about date labels. By addressing these habits, we can prevent a significant amount of food waste.
Where in the world is food waste highest?
Food waste is a global challenge. According to the United Nations, approximately 1.05 billion tonnes of food are wasted every year, and households account for around 60% of total food waste. When measured per person, food waste levels are relatively similar across high-, middle- and low-income countries.