Bite-Sized Actions for Tackling Food Waste

Sustainable Lifestyle - Purpose on the Planet

Our planet produces more than enough food—yet millions remain malnourished due to unequal access and inefficiencies.

Globally, roughly one-third of all food is wasted.

In the U.S., that number is even higher—over 30% never gets eaten.

And about 40% of that waste happens at home.

That means this is one of the most powerful areas where individual action can make a difference.

Bite-Sized Actions:

Learn • Adopt • Model • Nudge

By supporting our Recruit & Restore programs, TMHCC is helping improve food security in Madagascar. And at home, you also have the opportunity to reinforce that impact through simple, everyday choices.

Lower Your Carbon Footprint - Purpose on the Planet

LEARN

Start by building awareness.

Watch: 10 simple ways to reduce food waste at home

Hunger & Food Waste Quiz - Purpose on the Planet

Take: “Tough to Swallow” Food Waste Quiz

Small insights often lead to lasting habits.

Fight Poverty & Climate Change - Purpose on the Planet

ADOPT

As a whole, food waste also accounts for over 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

The carbon footprint of U.S. food waste is actually greater than that of the airline industry.

Check out our Shorten-Your-Food-Chain graphic below. It outlines the multiple stages in the food distribution process that most likely contribute to higher emissions and food waste.

Understanding how food moves from farm to table reveals where waste and emissions occur—and where small changes can make a big difference.

There's an app for that:

Impact UN SDG2 - Zero Hunger: Purpose on the Planet

Too Good To Go — save surplus food from local businesses

NoWaste — manage food at home and reduce spoilage

Recelery — connects neighbors to share or sell surplus pantry items

MODEL & NUDGE

Composting reduces the environmental impact of food waste.

Microbes convert organic material into nutrient-rich soil—keeping carbon out of the atmosphere and creating valuable fertilizer.

Widespread composting could deliver carbon savings equivalent to removing 15 million passenger vehicles from the road for 30 years.

There's an app for that:

These tools make it easier to turn individual actions into shared community impact.

Olio — share surplus food with neighbors

MakeSoil — connect locally to compost food scraps and build healthier soil

Connect with us:

Purpose on the Planet: Top Charities & Best Nonprofits

Purpose on the Planet is an approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Re Write Our Story program is also recognized on the UN website as a 2030 SDG Acceleration Action.