Too many gifts, too much food: our holiday excesses are putting a serious strain on the environment

Around the end-of-year holidays, the same scenario repeats itself in many families: too much food is put on the table, the refrigerator is filled with leftovers, a large part of which later ends up in the trash. Every fifth respondent (18%) in a survey commissioned by Nestlé Hungária admits that food waste is one of the bad habits of everyday life, just like the use of disposable plastics or the wasteful use of energy and water.

Wasted necessities

The survey shows that all of this is closely related to unnecessary purchases. According to Lili Fülöp, dietician at Nestlé Hungária, this is no coincidence: the research clearly recorded that 19 percent of respondents even buy products on a daily basis that they do not actually need.

This kind of attitude is even stronger during the holiday season. At such times, we are more likely to overdo it with gifts, purchasing raw materials, and packaging materials. This is no longer just a question of money, but also a serious environmental problem that affects each generation differently.

Younger generations are more likely to waste energy, water and food, while older generations – the X and boomer generations – are more economical with energy, water and food. This may be due to the fact that they still have direct memories of their grandparents’ generations, where it was natural to appreciate food, systematically reuse leftovers and prefer locally available, seasonal ingredients.

New times, old patterns

Old patterns are being revalued today, only in a modern environment, with a different lifestyle. The majority pay attention to thrift: many freeze in portions, store in airtight containers, or organize their refrigerators by expiration date. More than four-fifths of those surveyed regularly prepare new dishes from leftover ingredients, often improvising, sometimes relying on family traditions, sometimes on online ideas. This is an even more natural practice in rural areas, while it is spreading more slowly in cities.

The increasing awareness is probably also related to high food prices, as the research showed that most respondents are environmentally conscious where there are tangible financial benefits: in energy and water savings (55%), in reducing purchases (42%) and in food savings (41%).

We can also show self-restraint at Christmas

In addition to the fact that saving in itself motivates us to be sustainable, the holiday season is particularly suitable for making more conscious decisions.

“It is also worth paying attention to how much we buy, how we plan, and what we do with the leftovers”

– emphasizes Lili Fülöp. According to her, we can do a lot for the environment by cooking more thoughtfully, sharing the surplus with the family, or creatively preparing new dishes from what is left over.

According to Lili Fülöp, reducing food waste does not necessarily require one big decision. Small decisions, recognizing and changing bad habits and habits are often more useful, as their effects add up. Change starts with small steps: this was the starting point of the Nestlé and SPAR’s joint Year Planner, which provided tangible tips month after month to help us become more aware.