# EACH PERSON IN THE UK THROWS AWAY EQUIVALENT OF TWO BURGERS A DAY IN FOOD WASTE - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/03/each-person-in-the-uk-throws-away-equivalent-of-two-burgers-a-day-in-food-waste/ - Published: 2018-03-28T01:16:46-04:00 - Author: greenlivingguy Countries are finding resourceful ways to tackle food waste.  Some countries are good and some are not so good. ###### • In the 󠀁[UK](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/05/top-5-uk-urban-areas-fighting-climate-change/)󠁿, the average food waste per person per year is 74.7kg; equal to 655 quarter pounder burgers. Yearly, this causes for 4.9 million tonnes of food waste.⏎ • Greece leads the way in least average food waste per person at 44kg per year ###### • Australia wastes 8.9 million tonnes of food a year, 4x more than Sweden (2.1m) ![EACH PERSON IN THE UK THROWS AWAY EQUIVALENT OF TWO BURGERS A DAY IN FOOD WASTE]( https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/wp-1456420456803. jpeg?resize=270%2C179&quality=52&ssl=1) First of all, countries around the world are coming up with creative ways to tackle the global issue of food waste. According to research conducted by kitchen specialists [Magnet:](https://web.archive.org/web/20180801123136/https://www.magnet.co.uk/) ##### Greece leads the way on minimum food waste:  only 44kg of food wasted each year. Magnet listed all organizations around the world dealing with food waste. ![ From mobile apps in the UK and Spain to smart cards in Greece, countries are finding resourceful ways to tackle food waste
• In the UK, the average food waste per person per year is 74.7kg, the equivalent of 655 quarter pounder burgers. Across the year, this accounts for 4.9 million tonnes of food
• Greece leads the way in least average food waste per person at 44kg per year
• Australia wastes 8.9 million tonnes of food a year, which is 4x more than Sweden (2.1m) 
As a result, countries around the world are coming up with creative ways to tackle the global issue of food waste, according to research conducted by kitchen specialists Magnet.
Greece leads the way in terms of minimum individual food waste, with an average 44kg of food wasted each year. The statistics are compiled from the Food Sustainability Index 2017. This was developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Barilla Centre for Food & Nutrition Foundation (BCFN).
To highlight the importance of reducing food waste, Magnet have shone a spotlight on some of the individual efforts that have been made by organizations around the world.](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy. com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/99ac6374-2622-4e46-a885-9bb1b3514e08.jpeg?resize= 270%2C201&quality=52&ssl=1) ###### Apps are popular in helping reduce the amount of food wasted. In the UK, Too Good To Go allows users to purchase surplus food from over 4,500 restaurants and cafes at a low price. In Spain, the Yo No Desperdicio app which stands for “I Don’t Waste”. This app also let’s users  give away or trade unwanted food items. In Greece, especially relevant, plans are in development to launch a smart food card in Heraklion. The initiative, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, will collect data from citizens’ shopping trips and tell them what items are in the fridge that have expiry dates coming up. Furthermore, according to the Food Sustainability Index, people in the United Kingdom waste an average of 74.7kg of food each year, ahead of South Korea (95kg) and France( 106kg). ![Waste](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/pexels- mumtahina-tanni-3230538.jpg?resize=420%2C279&quality=52&ssl=1 "pexels-mumtahina- tanni-3230538 - The Green Living Guy") In addition, Australia’s waste is astounding. Therefore, each person wastes about 361kg of food a year.  That’s the biggest amount out of all 30 countries listed. Nearly 90% of all tomatoes harvested in Australia are thrown away.  Consequently it’s purely based on their looks. Hayley Simmons, Head of Merchandising at Magnet, says of the research: > “We can already see that those initiatives that are creative and incorporate technology > in their approach are proving to be the most successful at whittling down of food > waste numbers. It also shows when people feel more accountable for the food, they > end up throwing away. > Something simple like being more aware of expiry dates and resisting the urge > to buy additional food when we have a fridge full.  These are the small changes > that can have a massive impact.” Finally, for more information on the research visit the Magnet site here: [https://www.magnet.co.uk/advice-inspiration/blog/2018/February/food-waste-around-the-world/](https://www.magnet.co.uk/advice-inspiration/blog/2018/February/food-waste-around-the-world/) For more information on the Food Sustainability Index 2017, please visit: [http://www.sustainability.eiu](http://www.sustainability.eiu) ![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641? s=300&d=monsterid&r=g) greenlivingguy The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke # Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow. [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/) [ ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/)