Young people’s concern for the environment
Food waste and its impact on climate change is a growing concern in society, and young people are the most aware. According to a recent study by Too Good To Go, the company responsible for the largest app in the world designed specifically to combat food waste, 80% of young students in Spain between 18 and 25 years of age consider it essential to avoid wasting food to stop climate change.
The survey of 1,700 students reveals that 63.6% are concerned about the future of the planet and sustainability.
In this sense, tackling food waste is pointed out by young people as a fundamental issue, with 4 out of 5 considering it essential to address this challenge in order to guarantee a greener future. When food is thrown away, all the natural resources used for its production are wasted. 24% of the water used to produce food is wasted, while 30% of cultivated land is used for products that will never be consumed. In addition, this problem represents up to 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally.
A way to save
In addition to causes related to the environment, the growing awareness of food waste has a unique ally: the rise in food prices. In this sense, inflation has had a significant impact on students’ budgets, since 84% lack money to be able to eat well at the end of the month according to survey data. For this reason, young people are looking for alternatives to cover their basic needs. In this sense, 96% claim to have had to change their food consumption habits and, of these, 51% claim to pay greater attention to avoiding food waste. In this way, young generations recognize the need to adopt a responsible approach to preserve the environment and also take care of their pocketbooks. But is this reflected in your waste? Although it is a complicated task, the efforts are present and more than 50% claim to throw away less than 5% of the food they buy. This tendency to take care of both the environment and personal finances is reinforced by certain purchasing habits. Thus, 68% pay more attention to promotions and discounts, while 54% have reduced the quality of the food they buy and 35% have reduced the quantity of food.
The perception of young people regarding actions by previous links in the food chain or public administrations
The study also sheds light on the perception of young people regarding actions by previous links in the food chain or public administrations. 80.6% of students believe that Europe can address the problem of climate change and 56% believe that it will only be achieved if it has ambitious legislation and measures. Regarding the actions of governments and public administrations regarding food waste, 74.3% consider that they are not doing their part and that more action and commitment from administrations is needed. “The reality of the youngest is essential to understanding the problem of food waste and being able to find solutions to this global scourge. Collaboration between all parties involved in the value chain is essential, from the producer to the consumer, including distributors, the hospitality industry and even the public administration. That is the key to achieving food waste reduction goals. If we encourage collective action and joining forces, we will be able to move towards that goal of zero waste,” explains Marie Lindström, director of Too Good To Go in Spain.