Here’s some food for thought: latest statistics say that Australians waste around 7.6 million tonnes of food every year—that’s enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground ten times over (End Food Waste Australia).
Most of us don’t mean to waste food… it just kind of happens. Half a can of coconut milk pushed to the back of the fridge to grow its very own eco-system, herbs that wilt when you look away for 2 seconds, that giant bag of spinach you swore you’d eat every day… we can all relate, right?
However, a few simple swaps and habits can transform your kitchen into a mostly waste-free zone with minimal effort (or guilt).
Here are some easy ways to get started:
🛒 Buy in Bulk: Bulk buying isn’t just about saving money (though that’s a nice perk). Less packaging, less waste, and more control over your pantry. Give our Bulk Buys section on our website a try and stock up on fruit, veg, laundry liquid, juice, you name it.
🥜 Keep Nuts and Nut Meals in the Fridge: Almond meal, ground nuts, and even whole nuts can turn rancid real fast, especially in warmer months. Pop them in the fridge in your crisper drawer and they’ll stay fresher for much longer.
🥗 Create an ‘Eat Me First’ Container in the Fridge: Designate a container for food that needs to be prioritised. Label it with something fun like “Eat Me First.” You’ll be surprised how much this reduces your food waste at the end of the week.
🧊 Smoothie, Stock and Soup Bags in the Freezer: Overripe bananas? Wilting spinach? Veggie ends? Freeze them in designated bags and save them for later. It’s the ultimate time saver on a busy day.
🥥 Coconut Powder Instead of Tinned Coconut Milk: Coconut milk cans are great… until you only need half and the other half inevitably goes bad at the back of the fridge. Coconut powder is shelf-stable, long-lasting, and ready to whisk into curries, soups, or smoothies whenever you like.
🥘 Meal Planning & Meal Kits: Planning your meals for the week is one of the easiest ways to cut down food waste and the “what’s for dinner?” stress. You’ll shop smarter, reduce impulse buys, and actually use what’s in your fridge instead of forgetting all about it.
And if planning isn’t your thing (we get it), that’s where our Organic Meal Kits swoop in to save the day. Created in collaboration with nutritionist Casey-Lee Lyons, each kit comes with a simple recipe and all the fresh, organic ingredients you need straight from our farmers. Think of it as meal planning on autopilot: wholesome, zero-waste, and no half-used random ingredients left behind.
Check out our downloadable meal planner here, or dive into our Meal Kits and make dinner the chillest part of your week.
🌿 Freeze Herbs in Ice Trays with Olive or Coconut Oil: Chop herbs, fill ice cube trays, top with your oil of choice, and freeze. When you cook, just drop a cube in and taste the flavours.
🏷️ Label Leftovers and Dry Goods with Dates: Dates on your jars help you know what to eat first and keep your pantry organised. You’ll never have food poisoning paranoia again.
🥣 Keep Food in Clear Glass Containers: Out of sight = out of mind. Clear containers let you see what’s inside, making it easier to actually use it. Bonus: your pantry now looks like something from that Pinterest board you’ve been working on.
🌏 Your Zero-Waste Kitchen
So here we are, already halfway to a zero-waste kitchen. With these tips, you’re saving food, saving money, and probably feeling pretty smug about it too. 😏
Every jar labelled, every freezer bag full, every banana saved from going too mushy to handle is a small victory for you and an even bigger win for the planet.
So grab your coconut powder, your clear glass jars, and your herby ice cube trays. It’s the small, achievable actions that count!
🍽️ The Great Unwaste Day – 29 September 2025
Save the date! On 29 September 2025, Australia will celebrate its first The Great Unwaste Day. The goal is to turn leftovers into meals worth sharing and take part in the nationwide Leftovers Revolution.
If every household joined in for just one day, we could save 5,000 tonnes of food, cut enough CO₂ emissions to power 4,500 homes, and return $53 million to the economy.
The campaign includes handy resources like recipes, social media assets, and tips to make joining in easy.Find out more and get involved here: thegreatunwaste.com.au/great-unwaste-day
Sourced from End Food Waste Australia.
