It has been reported that in the US each year about one fourth of the total purchase of food items by the households gets wasted. The reason for this is very clear. America is a huge country which never lacks resources. Estimates have reflected that it produces 2 times its total requirement. Abundance of food is also a major reason for the developing attitude of the people for wasting food. Besides the quantity of food that gets wasted there are some other environmental impacts which have adverse effects on our environment.

Sodexo in order to spread awareness among people regarding food waste reduction has started a campaign whereby it invites them to join and contribute their bit in order to help in such a cause.

Food is available in abundance in the developed nations of the world whereby in parts of the world the shortage of food is still prevalent. So instead of throwing away the excess production it could be used as donation to the required countries. This would not only help in utilizing the produce but also reduce the severe impacts of the food waste on our environment. People have a general perception that even though the food wastes are used as landfill they get decomposed and have no impact on our environment. Minority among them are aware that food waste in absence of oxygen degenerates which produces methane (considered 21times more harmful than Carbon Dioxide). Methane as we know is responsible for depletion of the Ozone having a negative impact on the changing climatic temperatures around the world and contributing towards Global Warming.

Figures estimate that around 25% of the total food purchased by the households are wasted which accounts to a quarter of the total income of the households spent on food items. Techniques are there for proper disposal of the wastages in order to reduce its impact on the environmental damages. But an intelligent consumption pattern, effective utilization of available resources and proper preservation techniques would surely help in food waste reduction adding to the fact that environmental damages would also get reduced.

The author writes articles on Global Warming related topics including stopping food waste and waste reduction.