According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation survey, 89 million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the European Union, which represents 179 kg per capita. As a result, food waste has a strong environmental, economic and social impact, so it is key to identify the causes and find new ways to combat it.

To address this problem, DECO Algarve is working on its next project: "Save and avoid food waste". This campaign aims to promote awareness-raising sessions to help consumers make better consumption choices, enabling them to make more responsible and conscious decisions from an economic and environmental point of view.

According to DECO, "consumer homes are the places where most food is wasted. So how can we start preventing food waste?” Find some tips below:

- We should start by planning our meals for the week, as it allows us to organise in advance if we need to reuse leftovers.

- Make a list before you go shopping with only what you need and stick to it.

- Pay attention to the sales and buy only what you really need.

- Don't go shopping hungry.

- Whenever possible buy in bulk - this will make it easier to control quantities and avoid waste.

This initiative is funded by ACCIONAD-ODS, which is co-financed by EP-Interreg V Spain Portugal (POCTEP). It promotes a framework of cross-border institutional cooperation between organisations and institutions in Western Andalusia, Extremadura (Badajoz and Cáceres) and the southern Portuguese regions of the Algarve and Alentejo.

"The project will run until 15 July and we can hold free sessions with the Algarve community”. If you're interested in hosting one, just let DECO Algarve know on 289 863 103, or email deco.algarve@deco.pt

Author

Paula Martins is a fully qualified journalist, who finds writing a means of self-expression. She studied Journalism and Communication at University of Coimbra and recently Law in the Algarve. Press card: 8252

Paula Martins