41.8% of public underestimate food waste costs

The survey found that 41.8% of UK adults believe they only waste £100 to £200 worth of food annually. 

However, a WRAP investigation in 2023 found that four-people households are wasting an average of £1,000 a year on food that is thrown away.  

The same WRAP report found that the main food items falling victim to waste are fresh produce (30.1%), bread and bakery items (27.8%) and leftovers (27.4%). 

After informing respondents of the true cost of food waste, Too Good To Go said that 87.6% of respondents said they would be willing to alter shopping and cooking habits.  

This willingness was driven primarily by a desire to save money (67.4%), followed by a want to be more sustainable (33.1%) and to contribute to broader food waste reduction efforts (31.6%). 

Too Good To Go offers a platform for restaurants and food distributors to redirect surplus food to consumers so that it does not go to waste.  

The app allows local businesses to distribute “Surprise Bags” comprised of items that would otherwise become food waste.  

Reducing food waste in the home 

Too Good To Go shared several tips to help the public reduce food waste in the home:  

• Freeze leftovers that you don’t think you’re going to be able to eat in time. 

• Adapt your dishes. For example, a bolognese can be repurposed as a chilli con carne or pie.  

• Be mindful of how your store different types of food. For example, cloth bags are ideal for storing bread as they prevent it from drying out. Freshly made bread should not be stored in airtight bags to allow it to breathe and stay as fresh as possible. 

• Sliced bread should be stored in the fridge to extend its shelf life. 

Interested in learning more about food waste? Join us at the Letsrecycle.com Food Waste Conference in London on 6 March 2025. Find out more and book tickets here.