Globally, over 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year. About one-third of all food produced. In the UK alone, nearly 10 million tonnes of food go to waste annually, much of it still edible. Reducing food waste is one of the most effective actions we can take to combat climate change and build a more sustainable food system.

When food is thrown away and sent to landfills, it breaks down without oxygen, releasing methane. A greenhouse gas over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. This accelerates climate change. Diverting food waste from landfills through composting is a simple yet powerful way to reduce emissions and restore soil health.

We are rapidly depleting the world’s topsoil. The fertile layer that sustains nearly all plant life, through intensive farming, over-tilling, and the heavy use of chemical fertilisers. These synthetic inputs may boost short-term growth, but they poison the soil over time, killing beneficial microbes and disrupting natural nutrient cycles. Meanwhile, food waste sent to landfills creates toxic leachate that can seep into surrounding soil and groundwater, further contaminating ecosystems.