New Zealand households have made significant strides in reducing food waste, saving $300 million , the equivalent of feeding more than 530,000 Kiwis annually, according to new research by HelloFresh.
The study found that nearly half of all households (49%) have taken steps to reduce food waste in the last 12 months, driven largely by rising food costs and better food management practices.
Source: HelloFresh
Despite this progress, the average Kiwi household still throws away around 86 kilograms of food per year, equating to 9% of their weekly food shop, or $1,326 annually. Younger New Zealanders aged 18-29 are the most wasteful, discarding 12.3% of their weekly groceries.
HelloFresh’s research underscores the environmental and financial benefits of meal kits, which have been shown to generate 38% less food waste compared to supermarket-bought ingredients. The survey also revealed that 60% of households now spend between $200 and $499 per week on food, up from 45% in 2023, making waste reduction even more critical.
Angela Calver, CEO of KiwiHarvest, says more still needs to be done. "Food waste remains a significant environmental issue. While we've made progress, there's still a long way to go. By being mindful of what we buy and how we store it, we can reduce both our environmental impact and our household costs."
Source: KiwiHarvest
The findings come as rugby legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe teams up with HelloFresh and national food rescue charity KiwiHarvest for a ‘team talk’ on Kiwis' food waste habits.
For more insights and tips on reducing food waste, visit HelloFresh's food waste page HERE
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