Food waste is one of household management’s most pervasive yet unnoticed problems. This episode will tackle food waste in daily life by providing practical strategies that listeners can implement.
Meet Prof. Simon Lockrey
Dr. Simon Lockrey is a leading researcher in sustainability and design innovation. He works in life cycle assessment, resource efficiency, and waste reduction.
Collaborating with major companies and governments worldwide, he has generated millions in research funding and influenced policy and commercial practices. A key figure in major research initiatives like the Fight Food Waste CRC, his efforts aim to halve Australian food waste by 2030.
About the episode
The podcast started with a definition of household management. They discussed the definition, misconceptions, and needs of household management. Dr. Simon believes that household management is a nexus of systems that you must take care of daily, from energy consumption to waste disposal and even social relationships.
This ties into the next discussion about the different needs of every household. The people in the household are composed of diverse factors, and thus this level is the most unpredictable and nebulous in terms of managing food waste. Nevertheless, Dr. Simon revealed that despite these hindrances, there are ways to manage waste on the household level.
He discussed the Fight Food Waste Initiative, which is composed of three areas: food waste reduction, food waste transformation, and fighting food waste through community engagement. Through these areas, his initiative helps people be more mindful of waste throughout all parts of the supply chain, from farm to fork.
Aside from explaining his work, Dr. Simon also shared key insights about food waste. He discussed the core issues of food waste: it is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, a missed opportunity to redistribute resources to those who need them, and a huge financial cost to systems and households alike. They also delved deep into an interesting discussion about exactly how food waste affects other people.
More importantly, the discussion then centered around strategies to minimize food waste. Some simple and practical tips include reusing plastics, using technology to manage your food inventory, and planning your consumption properly.
In conclusion
Responsible homeowners should manage their household in a way that is good for themselves, the people around them, and even the environment. While food waste at the household level can be difficult to tackle, implementing the simple tips contained in this episode can be a good start.
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