131 KG Challenge: How to Stop the Huge Food Waste in Latvia?

Imagine a heavy refrigerator or even an adult panda. Now imagine that weight – approximately 131 kilograms – in food. Shockingly, according to “Eurostat” data for 2022, that's how much food waste the average resident in the European Union generated last year. In total, this amounts to an astronomical figure – 58 million tonnes per year. Although more than half of this food waste originates from households, the problem is much broader and affects us all – especially businesses working with food daily.

In Latvia, the scale and specifics of this problem are currently being studied in depth by the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). Their goal, through several surveys, is to understand the habits of our population, the involvement of catering companies, and the initiatives of food producers to develop concrete proposals for improving the situation and reducing food waste.

More Than Just Discarded Food: The Hidden Resource Costs

When we throw away food, we're not just throwing away the product itself. We are discarding all the resources invested in its creation – from the field to our table. LBTU researcher Ilze Beitāne illustrates this perfectly with the example of a milk carton:

“From a household perspective, I throw out, for example, one carton of milk, but if we look back at the whole process – that milk was obtained somewhere, the entire production. Firstly, milk was obtained from a cow, then that milk went to a food production company where it was sterilized, pasteurized accordingly, packaged, and so on. A huge amount of resources was invested to ultimately get one carton of milk. As a result, we carelessly throw it away in the end.”

Let's think more specifically about these "huge resources" wasted along with the food:

• Water: Agriculture is one of the most water-intensive sectors. For example, producing one kilogram of beef requires approximately 15,000 liters of water! Plant-based products – bread, vegetables – also require hundreds of liters of water per kilogram.
• Land: Fertile land is needed to grow food. By wasting food, we unnecessarily burden valuable land areas and contribute to the depletion of natural resources.
• Energy: Huge energy consumption occurs at all stages – cultivation (machinery, fertilizers), production, processing, transportation, and especially storage (freezers, refrigerators).
• Labor: Countless hours of human effort are invested throughout the food's journey. By throwing away food, we devalue this labor.
• Emissions: Food production and transport generate significant greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, as food waste decomposes in landfills without oxygen, it releases methane (CH4) – a gas with a much stronger warming effect than CO2.

As the LBTU researcher notes, the attitude "this doesn't apply to me right now" often prevails. However, the European Green Deal and global sustainability goals clearly remind us – we must care for the environment for future generations. Reducing food waste is one of the most effective ways each of us and every company can contribute.

The Business Dilemma: Discard or Earn?

Although households generate the largest volume of food waste, restaurants, cafes, stores, and producers face this problem daily in a particularly concentrated form. Leftovers from the daily menu, products nearing their expiration date, surplus seasonal goods, aesthetically "imperfect" fruits or vegetables – all can quickly turn into losses.

For a business, discarding food means much more than just losing the purchase value of the product. It also means:

• Lost costs for employee time (product preparation, processing, write-offs).
• Lost energy costs (product storage in refrigerators/freezers, cooking).
• Additional costs for waste management and disposal.

The European Union's ambitious goal – to reduce food waste by 50% per capita by 2030 at both retail and consumer levels – creates additional motivation (and soon, possibly, requirements) not only for individuals but especially for businesses to act. But how to do it smartly and effectively?

Foodhero: Your Partner in Fighting Waste (and Boosting Profit!)

This is where Foodhero comes in. We are a platform and app that connects businesses with quality food surplus to buyers looking for delicious meals or products at a better price. We offer a simple and effective solution that turns potential losses into real gains – for both the environment and the business.

How does Foodhero help your business become a food rescuer?

1. Reduces food waste: The most obvious benefit – less food ends up in bins, helping your company become more environmentally friendly and achieve sustainability goals.
2. Recovers costs and generates additional income: By selling surplus through Foodhero, you recover part of the funds invested in products that would otherwise be written off as losses. Often, saving food and selling it at a discount through Foodhero is financially more advantageous than paying for its storage and disposal.
3. Attracts new customers: Users who discover your cafe, store, or restaurant through a Foodhero "surprise bag" at a good price are likely to return to purchase products at full price. It's a great marketing opportunity!
4. Improves brand image: Show your customers, partners, and the community that you are a responsible and sustainable business. This is becoming an increasingly important factor in consumer choice.
5. Simple and convenient process: Adding offers to the Foodhero partner app is quick, easy, and doesn't require significant additional resources.

Together We Can Do More: Awareness and Action

The first step, as the LBTU researcher emphasizes, is awareness. It's important to talk about the true scale of food waste and its impact on our planet and wallets. Each of us can start by evaluating our own shopping and consumption habits.

At the same time, by supporting businesses actively fighting waste, we collectively foster positive changes throughout the food system. By using the Foodhero app as a consumer, you not only save money and discover new taste adventures but also directly support local businesses on their path to more sustainable operations.

To obtain more precise data on the situation in Latvia, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies continues to invite all residents of Latvia to participate in their survey (look for information on the LBTU website) to help better understand the problem and find targeted solutions.

Conclusion: Let's Turn the Challenge into an Opportunity

That 131 kilograms of food waste per person per year isn't just a statistic – it's a huge challenge to our environment, economy, and future food security. But it is also a huge opportunity to act smarter, more efficiently, and more responsibly.

Foodhero invites all restaurants, cafes, stores, bakeries, and producers in Latvia to join our growing movement. Let's turn your surplus into delicious meals for satisfied customers and additional revenue for your business. Together, we can significantly reduce food waste in Latvia and build a greener, more sustainable future for all of us.

Be part of the solution, not the problem. Join the Foodhero partner network today and start saving food – and earning!