Sustainability may at times just sound like a buzzword, but it’s an instinct and a practice that’s been around for thousands of years. In its origins, sustainable practices were more about practicality, but today, we have a greater global awareness of their importance and impact on our society. With hunger on the rise for the second year in a row after a decade of decline, and with 312 million lbs of food wasted in America every year, sustainable food systems and practices support greater food security today. At the same time, reducing food waste can help reduce carbon emissions and conserve resources.
For generations, humans have attempted environmental stewardship by conserving natural resources, in hopes to sustain the planet for future generations. But, when exactly did this all begin?
First Signs of Sustainability
The earliest signs of sustainability can be found in Mesopotamia (8000 to 2000 BC). This is also the first place to develop agricultural systems. Mesopotamiams implemented agricultural techniques such as irrigation systems and crop rotation to make the most of their available resources and land. In Ancient Egypt, many aspects of life were tied to the status of the Nile river. From floods to droughts, Ancient Egyptians had to find ways to conserve water and maintain fertile soils for crops.
Centuries later in Medieval Europe, they reused and recycled everything they could - for instance, metals and glass were ‘upcycled’ but never wasted. Often, food was composted to fertilize soil and animal manure was used as fuel.
The Industrial Revolution
In many ways, sustainability is a survival instinct for humans, but once the Industrial Revolution kicked into gear, the relationship between the planet and people changed forever. From 1760 to 1840, mass production and urbanization replaced traditional agricultural practices. Instead of depending on good land, industries began to plow through forests to make space for the rapid industrial growth.
During this time, pollution and water quality became environmental concerns once industries started using coal and later oil. The shift to fossil fuels began to significantly increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and thus signaled a shift in the Earth’s climate.
Modern Sustainability
As human-centered activity continues to emit more greenhouse gasses, the state of our planet becomes a growing concern. Popularity started to rise in the 60s and 70s when the hippie movement was also active. Before the first Earth Day in 1970, factories could still dump toxic waste into any water source and emit toxic smoke into the air. But in spring of that year, Senator Gaylord Nelson started Earth Day and sparked nationwide attention. By December, the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency was authorized by Congress.
In 1987, the famous ‘Our Common Future’ report was published by the UN Brundtland Commission and changed the way people defined the sustainability movement and sustainable development.
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” - The Brundtland Report.
A year later in June of 1988, NASA scientists revealed the world’s climate was changing. This was the same time corporations began considering environmentalism as a selling point. Now, 78% of consumers believe sustainability is important. More than half of consumers are also willing to pay more for a product if it means it’s better for the environment
Sustainability and Food Waste
We at Move For Hunger considered the correlation between sustainability and hunger. Because the problem isn’t that there isn’t enough food out there. There is! While one-fifth of the world’s food is lost before it can ever be eaten, over 700 million people are facing hunger. The reality is we could feed all of these people with one quarter of the food that’s wasted annually in the U.S. and Europe.
Creating more sustainable food methods and reducing food waste can have a significant impact on the planet. In fact, food production is the reason for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Some ways people are making food production more sustainable are eating plant-based foods, vertical farming, and hydroponics. Reducing food waste not only helps the environment but also fights hunger.
How to Practice Sustainable Food Habits at Home
Want to be more sustainable? You can save your planet, combat food insecurity, and give back to your community all at the same time.
Donating: Maybe you went overboard on hoarding canned goods, or you’re moving and don’t want to throw away perfectly good food. Right now, 1 in 7 Americans are food insecure so every donation to your local food bank counts. If you don’t have any nonperishables, consider giving your time to helping out. Reach out to your local food bank and pantries and see what their needs are.
Composting: The easiest way to start composting at home is to start by collecting any leaves, grass, yard clippings, kitchen scraps, and some garden dirt, into a pile in your yard or compost bin. Then finish by adding in water - that’s it! Use the compost for your garden and yard. Decreasing the amount of food that ends up in landfills helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Zero Waste Recipes: Ran out of time to go to the grocery store or forget about the produce in your fridge? This is a great time to make a zero waste recipe! From curry to pasta salads, let your mind get creative. Reduce your food waste and use what you have before you buy more.
Sustainability Today
We need sustainability to ensure our communities are healthy, safe, and fed for this generation and the others to come. These practices have become increasingly important as the side effects of climate change worsen and intensify, and when 1 in 7 Americans are facing hunger today. Reducing food waste supports a more sustainable planet , and it’s easy for us all to do our part!
