Welcome to our unique Foodwise Families Educational Food Waste Awareness Child-Parent Initiative as part of the European Sustainable Development 2024 and Malta’s Sustainable Action Days.
This systemic initiative aims to bridge cultural boundaries, promotes multicultural harmony and environmental consciousness through zero-waste cooking as well as sustainability by teaching young people about food waste and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Foodwise Families brings together communities and families from diverse backgrounds to learn how reducing food waste benefits the environment and society.
This initiative is in part sponsored by APS Bank and Melita Foundation. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to APS Bank for their generous support and sponsorship, which has played an instrumental role in bringing this initiative to life, as well as Melita Foundation for co-sponsoring the production of our explainer video. Their commitment to fostering positive change and community development has been invaluable, and we deeply appreciate their partnership and belief in our vision.
We also would like to thank Jonathan Brincat and NONI Restaurant for your great support, generously providing children and their parents a unique Michelin Zero Waste cooking experience, as well as Sara Borg, Balance Nutrition and Nadia Cassar, Green Fingers Club Malta for their highly valuable workshops.
The UN 2022 report on food and climate change underscores how food production and consumption significantly impact both human health and the planet. The food supply chain—from cultivation to disposal—releases greenhouse gases, with nearly one-third of all man-made carbon dioxide emissions tied to agriculture and livestock. Let us have a closer look at how all of this is connected:
Food Waste and SDGs
SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: Reducing food waste ensures more food is available, contributing to global efforts to end hunger. By using all food efficiently, we help ensure that no one goes hungry.
SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Zero waste cooking promotes health by encouraging the use of nutrient-rich parts of foods, such as peels. This also helps reduce environmental pollution, contributing to a cleaner planet and healthier populations.
SDG 4 – Quality Education: Teaching children and families about zero waste cooking imparts valuable skills like meal planning and food storage, fostering lifelong learning about sustainability and resource management.
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: Reducing food waste conserves water, as less food production means less water usage. Moreover, preventing food from rotting in landfills reduces harmful runoff and pollution of water sources.
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequality: Efficient food use ensures that resources are shared more equitably, helping to address disparities in food access and promoting fairness across communities.
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Educating urban populations about minimizing food waste contributes to cleaner, more resilient communities. Reducing waste helps keep cities cleaner and reduces the strain on municipal resources.
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production: Reducing food waste is a key component of responsible consumption, which conserves resources and prevents the environmental damage caused by excessive production and waste.
SDG 13 – Climate Action: Food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, so minimizing waste through efficient cooking helps reduce the carbon footprint associated with food production and disposal, aiding climate action efforts.
SDG 14 – Life Below Water: Reducing food waste helps protect marine ecosystems by lowering the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, which can release harmful pollutants into water bodies.
SDG 15 – Life on Land: Similar to marine ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems are negatively impacted by food waste in landfills. Reducing waste contributes to the conservation of land ecosystems.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Collaboration among culinary experts, environmental organizations, communities, and digital platforms showcases how partnerships can drive progress toward achieving sustainable development objectives.
Through initiatives like Foodwise Families, communities can tackle food waste while contributing to a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy world.