New year is upon us and everyone is in high optimism that things is going to be better than ever. We are letting bad habits go behind us. We want to be more active, stop smoking, or begin the day with a meditation practice – a lot of us are setting resolutions for the upcoming year. Maybe you’re one of the people who aren’t too keen on New Year’s resolutions in the first place. All of them are fine and regardless of which category you’re in I’d like to discuss my New Year’s Resolution with you.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

I’ve decided to limit the food waste. In our home, far too much food ends being thrown away. If you study the data there’s no doubt that I’m not the only one doing this. Based on the WWF approximately 40% of the food products are wasted throughout this value chain. Each year, around 1 million tonnes of food waste that is not reusable are produced within Austria (valid estimates from the agricultural sector are not available but). The enormous food waste that is generated worldwide is the cause of about 10 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. This is nearly twice as high than the annual emissions from cars across Europe, the EU or the USA together. If we take a look at these figures and the implications, we can see that we must change something.

TOO GOOD FOR THE GARBAGE CAN

When I composed the article on the World Acre Innsbruck in October, and was able to attend the harvest celebration, organized through the co-operative feld:schafft I came to be aware of the idea of food sharing. This led to food sharing and the “catering”. The menu included bread and sweet pastries, fruits vegetables, pudding and more. So far, it was good but not exactly thrilling. What was thrilling however was the fact that the entire food item would have been destined for the garbage. We were able to enjoy them as they were kept out of the garbage bins thanks to the foodsharing program. This made me curious, and I was eager to know more about. This is why I am satisfied to talk about food sharing because it’s in great alignment in my New Year’s resolutions.

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Amazing, it would be disposed of in the garbage.

(c) Elisabeth de Koekkoek

WHAT IS FOODSHARING

The website foodsharing.com had its first birthday celebration in the month of December 2022. 10 years ago, on 12.12.2012 the platform went live. In the years since, this organization has been fighting to stop food waste by removing over-produced and unneeded food items from the waste bin. Volunteers ” food savers” take food that is not sold from supermarkets, bakeries or wholesalers and distribute it for free for all to enjoy. “The top priority of Foodsharing is to save the food from the garbage can – whether we redistribute it to the homeless, refugees or in the neighborhood is the same,” Verena Wagner an aid worker explained to me. Food is given to those who need it and want it. The food that is rescued is accessible to all in the so-called ” Fairteilern“. These are refrigerators and shelves located in public areas filled with people who call themselves “food savers”. In Innsbruck as well there are currently just four. Maybe, before you visit the market next time, you’ll go to one of them ” Fairteiler

There are at present 4 “fairtailers” in Innsbruck. The first one is within the Botanical Garden. (c) Elisabeth de Koekkoek

AN AWARD-WINNING INITIATIVE

In 2021, 13 projects from various categories were competing in 2021 for in 2021, 13 projects competed for the 2021 Environmental and Sustainability Award from the city of Innsbruck in 2021, which was awarded with 5 000 euros. The four award-winning projects is foodsharing Tirol and their “Fairteilern”. The project has about 400 “food savers” currently support the project in Innsbruck. If you’re also interested in join the food saving movement take a look at this. For an even more in-depth understanding, I suggest this video on YouTube. If you’re a business and would like to join the cause there is everything you must be aware of here..

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE WASTE?

It’s very easy to blame the cause of food waste to big corporations. But the reality is that the majority of wasted food in Austria happens at the house. As per the WWF estimates, anywhere from 500,000 to 521,000 tons of food meals per household end up in waste in the country each year. This amounts to a sum of as high as EUR800.00. This is insane and completely unnecessary. Especially given the rising costs we have to contend with, it’s a shame how carelessly we treat our food items.

IT’S ALL A QUESTION OF APPRECIATION

I’ve already addressed the issue of waste food in an post on World Acre. world Acre. Claudia Sacher was kind enough to share a few easy and simple suggestions on how to reduce wasted food. It’s a good idea to visit. I believe it’s particularly bad when meat or meat products, as well as fish end up in the garbage. Every person has to decide for themselves whether he would like to be as a vegetarian or vegan or, like me, prefers to indulge in occasionally some meat. However, the reality is that a creature was killed for our pleasure. We cut grasslands and forests down or burned to make way for the production of animal food. The majority of fish stocks are overfished or fished to the limits. As we walk at the meat counter in the grocery store, perhaps we should be reminded of this more often, and only purchase what we require. At the end of the day it all comes to enjoying the food we eat.

You can also conjure other ideas out of it? …. (c) Stefanie Lehnes

ALL BEGINNINGS ARE DIFFICULT

I hope that I have been in a position to get you interested to learn more about this crucial subject. If I’m sincere, I’m happy to have the chance to write this piece and be able to discuss the subject of sustainability in a more comprehensive manner. Since I’m a complete novice in this. In our house like I said many things end in the garbage. I’m unorganized and purchase excessive amounts of the wrong items. And then I’m overwhelmed by the abundance of food items and I don’t know what to cook. Perhaps you’re feeling similar. If so, take a look at the Instagram page on foodsharing.de or foodsharing Innsbruck. You will find details, lifehacks that are practical and recipes that will help you to keep the amount of food you waste to a minimum. The food rescuer and blog author writer Verena Wagner has a couple of things to say on this issue and foodsharing Innsbruck. “Shelf life at least until it isn’t fatal from …”, to is one of her phrases that has etched itself in my head. I highly suggest the show ” How to SDG!” by the University of Innsbruck. The University of Innsbruck. Episode 14 you can watch an interview by Verena. Then, you’ll be aware of all you must know about sharing food in Innsbruck. This podcast can be found on any of the the major podcast platforms, as well as on YouTube.