A NATION OF WASTED OPPORTUNITIES: AUSSIES TOSS AWAY $500 A YEAR IN FOOD

Aussies throw away up to $500 a year on food waste - costing the nation more than $12 billion annually, a new survey shows.

Contributing to Australia’s 7.6 million tonnes of food waste produced annually, 60% of Aussies admit that they’ve thrown out ‘forgotten’ food and ingredients in the past year, and over half (56%) have let leftovers go to waste due to poor portion planning.

As well, the national survey from meal kit delivery service, HelloFresh,, showed 16% of people admitted to ‘accidentally’ throwing out food after confusing best-before and use-by dates. 

The findings show that 70% of Aussie parents are worried about how the nation’s poor waste habits will impact the lives of future generations, with a huge 75% calling for mandatory education in schools about preventing food waste. 

According to Carol Carneiro, Early Childhood Education Chef from Kool Beanz Academy, by engaging and educating children from an early age on the importance of reducing food waste, parents have the opportunity to inspire the next generation of climate leaders. 

“When it comes to teaching kids about the importance of sustainability, there’s no such thing as too early," she said. 

“HelloFresh’s research shows that 80% of parents believe their own food waste habits will influence that of their kids.

"This couldn’t be more true, so it’s crucial to lead by example by adopting climate-friendly food waste strategies in your home, and engage your children with meaningful, hands-on experience.

“From games and activities like using leftovers to creating delicious meals, to practical advice on how to reduce food scraps with pre-portioned ingredients like those from HelloFresh, teaching kids about food waste through play is the best way to set up future generations for success.” 

Giving Aussie parents the tools to teach eco-friendly living, HelloFresh has partnered with Kool Beanz to create a first-of-its-kind food-waste workshop for kids – Climate Superstars Camp. 

On October 12 a free workshop will see young food waste warriors dive into a series of interactive activities from ‘food detective adventures’ to ‘natural cleaning potion labs’, giving kids the practical skills and knowledge to become climate leaders. 

Leaving no aspiring superstars behind, the full set of camp activities’has been made freely available online, allowing families across Australia to get involved in the food-waste fun. 

Aussies looking to sign up for Climate Superstars Camp can visit the link HERE to secure their spot, and visit HERE for the full list of free activities.