AND ITS ECOLOGICAL IMPACT FOOD WASTE IN MALAYSIA AISYAH, DURRAH, SYAMIMIE, SARA, AIQA, KHAIRIEN, SYAFIQAH
DEFINITION
FOOD WASTE Definition of Food " waste " means food that is safe to eat but is intentionally thrown away at the retail or consumer stages. Food waste occurs along the entire spectrum of production, from the farm to distribution to retailers to the consumer. Food waste. The Nutrition Source - The Nutrition Source. (2024, May 9). https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/sustainability/food-waste/
FOOD LOSS Definition of Food “”loss ”” refers to a decrease in the amount or nutritional quality of food that was originally meant for human consumption. Happens before the food reaches the consumer due to problems in production, storage, processing, and distribution. (spoilage and damage)
WHY SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT IT? Nutritious food that is currently being wasted could be used to feed families in need. Greenhouse gases generated from food rotting in landfills could be reduced to help mitigate climate change Resources could be saved and redirected towards more productive purposes. Financial savings could benefit businesses and consumers, while also providing greater financial stability for farmers. Goodwin, L. (2023b, April 20). The global benefits of reducing food loss and waste, and how to do it. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/reducing-food-loss-and-food-waste
DIFFERENCES IN TERMS Food Waste Food Loss Food Wastage Quantitative waste, which is edible food that is originally catered for human consumption that is being completely discarded (Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations) Qualitative loss or value loss, including bruising or wilting that decreases the quality of edible food without being discarded. The qualitative value loss in food loss can be nutritional loss, economic loss, and aesthetic loss, but nevertheless, still consumable. A reference to both food loss (qualitative loss) and food waste (quantitative loss)
MAIN ISSUE Malaysia ’s food waste is estimated to increase to 6.5 million tonnes in 2020 as compared to 4.4 million tonnes in 2005 Households are biggest contributor to food waste at 38%; followed by food courts and restaurants at 23%, wet and night markets at 24%, and hotels at 7% The massive amount of discarded food from restaurants is mainly caused by consumers’ leftovers on plates, whereby 65% of food wastage could be avoidable if consumers take responsibility for a sustainable consumption The amount of food waste by Malaysian is on average 1 kg per person, higher than developing countries with waste of 0.3 kg per person, but lower than developed countries with waste of 3–4 kg per person
ARTICLE ANALYSIS
FOOD WASTE COMPOSITION Malaysians exhibit varying patterns of food waste across categories, including raw animal-based, raw plant-based, cooked animal-based, and cooked plant-based foods. The category with the highest waste is "None, " indicating that the majority of respondents reported not wasting any cooked animal-based food.
HOUSEHOLD SKILLS The distribution of respondents across different skill levels, ranging from very poor to very good, indicates the varying degrees of readiness in managing meals efficiently and minimizing food waste. 1. Enhancing these skills through education and awareness campaigns can empower individuals to make informed decisions, reduce excess food purchases, optimize ingredient use, and creatively repurpose leftovers, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable approach to food management and waste reduction in Malaysian households. 2.
1.Economic Implications: Malaysians are highly aware that food waste leads to financial loss. Wasting food means wasting money spent on purchasing, storing, and preparing it. 2. Environmental Consequences: Respondents understand that food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, and water pollution. This awareness promotes support for sustainable waste management practices. 3. Social Implications: Malaysians recognize the social impact of food waste, such as food insecurity. Reducing food waste can help redistribute surplus food to those in need. BEHAVIOR AND AWARENESS AMONG MALAYSIANS
CAUSES OF FOOD WASTE
EXCEEDING EXPIRY DATE FOOD SPOILAGE Discarding a significant amount of food that is expired Confusion over labels (“best before ” and ‘production date ’) Spoiled food due to improper storage Keeping it for later Forgetting about the food
The perception that food is no longer fresh although it is still edible Mostly on fresh produce: fruits and vegetables ASSUMING THE FOOD WENT BAD OVERBUYING FOOD STOCKS Poor purchase management Influenced by large portion sizes Failure in meal planning
FOOD IS UNAPPETIZING EXCESSIVE ORDERING Food left unfinished because it does not satisfy one ’s palate Seen as a norm Failure to balance the need and greed when ordering Sometimes overestimate the number of guests Simply to show off
RETAIL & INSTITUTIONAL LEVELS Quality control Damaged prepared items Over-stocking or overpreparation of food Defective packaging Daily kitchen scraps
SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
COOKING BEHAVIOR No.1 Plan a meal in advance before start cooking. For instance, making a shopping list and check the stock in the kitchen cabinet. Not only that, planning meals ahead will actually reduce the amount of food waste. Meanwhile, buying too much food or unintended products have another effects. Moreover, planning meals ahead can help consumers to decrease unplanned purchases and limit food waste.
UNDERSTAND FOOD LABELLING No.2 There is a difference between “ use by ’ and ‘best before ’ dates. ‘Best before ’ dates give us an idea of how long a food will last before they lose quality. Sometimes food is still safe to eat after the ‘best before ’ date. For example, the food with ‘best before ’ date includes pasta, tinned products, chocolate and many more. Meanwhile, ‘use by ’ date tells us when it is no longer safe to eat. Milk is one of the examples of ‘use by ’ product. The importance of understand food labelling is that we can know the dateline where we should finish the food prior to the stated date so that it will not be thrown out.
DONATE LEFTOVERS No.3 Also known as food charity, where instead of discarding edible food that we no longer want, consider donating it to organizations that help underprivileged communities. This can apply to households, restaurants, and events that have a surplus of edible food. For instance, in Malaysia, The Lost Food Project rescues quality food and distributes it to those in need and supports vulnerable communities by providing nutritious meals. reference: Team, W. I. (2021, September 24). The 2030 Goal: Is Malaysia On Track To Reduce Its Food Waste? Wiki Impact. https://www.wikiimpact.com/the-2030-goal-is-malaysia-on-track-to-reduce-its-foodwaste/#explore-our-sources
FOOD WASTE BIOREFINERY No.4 A biological process to transform biomass (like food waste) into valuable products such as biofuels, chemicals, and ecofriendly materials. Biorefineries prioritize sustainability by using renewable resources i.e. food waste. Instead of relying on composting which can also help reduce food waste, it is mostly done on an individual basis whereas the biorefinery is much more suitable to be done countrywide meaning all of the citizens can contribute and it will produce better outcomes than mere composting. It also aligns with the circular economy where it minimizes waste by recycling, reusing, and regenerating materials. It has yet to be built in Malaysia but it’s a possible implementation. reference: Tsegaye, B., Jaiswal, S., & Jaiswal, A. K. (2021, May 24). Food Waste Biorefinery: Pathway towards Circular Bioeconomy. Foods, 10(6), 1174. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10061174
reference: Ch’ng, B. (2019, November 29). Smart waste solution lab helps ease dumping problem in SS2. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2017/09/09/smartwaste-solution-lab-helps-ease-dumping-problem-in-ss2/ SS2 COMPOSTING FACILITY reference: Chen, G. (2019, November 29). Councils determined to recycle food waste. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/07/28/councils-determined-torecycle-food-waste-mpsj-and-mbpj-choose-gentle-persuasion-over-enforcement/
reference: About Us - Bio-Mate. (n.d.). https://www.biomate.com.my/about-us reference: Shahril, M. (2023, October 30). Pioneering the Next Frontier: Biorefineries Of the Future - MIDA | Malaysian Investment Development Authority. MIDA | Malaysian Investment Development Authority. https://www.mida.gov.my/pioneering-the-nextfrontier-biorefineries-of-the-future/ reference: Www.v-B.My. (n.d.). MAEKO - The Food Waste Specialist. https://maeko.com.my/ FACILITIES TACKLING FOOD WASTE highly efficient on-site recycling process converts organic waste (including food waste) into natural/organic fertilizers, compost, soil conditioners, or animal feed within 24-48 hours. focused on solving the food waste issue in Malaysia. They work to reduce food waste by converting it into valuable resources. transformed into a bio-organic compost that can be used in many different ways Malaysia, as the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, has abundant biomass resources, particularly from the palm oil industry. offer opportunities to turn waste into something valuable and promote a sustainable, circular approach
ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS
No.1 Waste of Natural Resources Energy, fuel and water that produces food will be wasted Water is used in food production : agriculture, irrigation and spraying The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said we wasted USD$172 billion for water
No.1 Contribution to Climate Change Food waste in the landfills will release methane, which lingers for 12 years and traps heat from the sun This will contribute to the increase of greenhouse gases emissions If we stop throwing food, we can save 17 metric tonnes of CO2 (equivalent to 5 cars off the road in UK)
No.1 Harm to Biodiversity Agriculture, deforestation, and conversion of natural lands can destroy flora and fauna Fish catcing can reduce the fish population Yet, in Europe, they discarded 40-60% fish because they do not meet the quality standards Causes over exploitation of fish
CONCLUSION Causes of food waste: exceed expiry date spoilage assume food went bad overbuying stock unappetizing excessive ordering retail and institutional levels Suggestion: Cooking behaviour Understand labels Donate leftovers Food waste biorefinery Ecological Impacts: Waste of natural resources Contribution to climate change Harm biodiversity
REFERENCES 15 quick tips for reducing food waste and becoming a Food hero. (n.d.). Newsroom. https://www.fao.org/newsroom/story/15-quick-tips-for-reducing-food-waste-and-becominga-Food-hero/en 86,177 TONNES OF FOOD WASTED IN MALAYSIA LAST RAMADAN. (2024, February 7). BERNAMA. https://www.bernama.com/en/infographics/index.php?v=12084 About Us - Bio-Mate. (n.d.). https://www.biomate.com.my/about-us Admin. (2020a, October 9). Councils determined to recycle food waste. CHGreen. https://www.chgreen.my/councils-determined-to-recycle-food-waste/ Admin. (2020b, October 9). MBPJ to turn food waste at SS2 market into compost. CHGreen. https://www.chgreen.my/mbpj-to-turn-food-waste-at-ss2-market-into-compost/ Chan, C. W. (2022, April 9). Food Waste in Malaysia - Dr Chian-Wen Chan - Medium. Medium. https://drchianwenchan.medium.com/food-waste-in-malaysia-43b9ef73c286 Chen, G. (2019, November 29). Councils determined to recycle food waste. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/07/28/councils-determined-to-recyclefood-waste-mpsj-and-mbpj-choose-gentle-persuasion-over-enforcement/ Ch’ng, B. (2019, November 29). Smart waste solution lab helps ease dumping problem in SS2. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2017/09/09/smart-waste-solutionlab-helps-ease-dumping-problem-in-ss2/
REFERENCES Food waste. The Nutrition Source - The Nutrition Source. (2024, May 9). https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/sustainability/food-waste/ Goodwin, L. (2023b, April 20). The global benefits of reducing food loss and waste, and how to do it. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/reducing-food-loss-and-food-waste Lewis, J. (2024, March 4). How Does Food Waste Affect the Environment? Earth.Org. https://earth.org/how-does-food-waste-affect-the-environment/ Nordin, N. H., Kaida, N., Othman, N. A., Akhir, F. N. M., & Hara, H. (2020). Reducing Food Waste: Strategies for Household Waste Management to Minimize the Impact of Climate Change and Contribute to Malaysia ’s Sustainable Development. IOP Conference Series. Earth and Environmental Science, 479(1), 012035. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/479/1/012035 Phooi, C. L., Azman, E. A., Ismail, R., Shah, J. A., & Koay, E. S. R. (2022). Food Waste Behaviour and Awareness of Malaysian. Scientifica, 2022, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/6729248 Shahril, M. (2023, October 30). Pioneering the Next Frontier: Biorefineries Of the Future - MIDA | Malaysian Investment Development Authority. MIDA | Malaysian Investment Development Authority. https://www.mida.gov.my/pioneering-the-next-frontier-biorefineries-of-thefuture/
REFERENCES Team, W. I. (2021, September 24). The 2030 Goal: Is Malaysia On Track To Reduce Its Food Waste? Wiki Impact. https://www.wikiimpact.com/the-2030-goal-is-malaysia-on-track-toreduce-its-food-waste/#explore-our-sources Tsegaye, B., Jaiswal, S., & Jaiswal, A. K. (2021, May 24). Food Waste Biorefinery: Pathway towards Circular Bioeconomy. Foods, 10(6), 1174. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10061174 Www.v-B.My. (n.d.). MAEKO - The Food Waste Specialist. https://maeko.com.my/
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