Researchers from the University of Economics in Prague, Mendel University in Brno, and the Save Food association have developed a tool to estimate the cost of food waste in Czech households. Based on data obtained by Mendel University from 2019 to 2022, the tool estimates that a family of two adults and two children will lose CZK 14,076 per year due to food waste. When converted to the average household size of 2.33 people according to the Czech Statistical Office, this amounts to CZK 8,199. The calculation takes into account various factors such as the consumption of food per kilogram and the consumption expenditure of Czech households on food. It also considers the impact of more expensive foods being wasted less, perishables being wasted more, food poured down the sink or toilet, inflation, and the effect of the economic crisis on food waste reduction.

The calculation estimates that in 2023, food worth CZK 3,519 per inhabitant will end up in the trash, compost, and waste pipes, which is expected to cost an average household CZK 8,199 for the year. The Save Food Initiative plans to use this data to communicate with consumers and will launch a month-long challenge in September to draw attention to the negative impacts of throwing away food and offer tips on how to reduce waste. The UN estimates that food waste is responsible for creating 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the environmental impact of food waste in addition to its financial cost.

Article by Prague Forum