The world wastes about 2.5 billion tons of food every year, and the United States discards more food than any other country in the world. Not only is this wasteful (to the tune of 60 million tons), but it also equates to $120 billion every year. Add to that the fact the production of wasted food in the United States is equivalent to the greenhouse emissions of 37 million cars, and we have a massive predicament on our hands.
The good news is technology is here to help. As one example, Vitesy offers Shelfy, which is a smart device to keep food fresher longer. The device has a three-week battery life and offers three modes: eco to optimize battery consumption; crisper when placed in the crisper drawer; and performance when needing that extra boost to ensure maximum power.
Here is how this can help:
- Extends food shelf life by up to 12 days, preserving freshness and flavor.
- Reduces circulating bacteria by 99% in just 10 minutes.
- Reduces 80% of unpleasant odors to keep a refrigerator smelling fresh.
Another cool feature is the device’s door opening sensor can keep track of how many times the door is open in a day to enhance efficiency and save on energy costs, while creating awareness of daily habits.
While this is only one example in our homes, we certainly have many technologies available to us to minimize the amount of waste in all areas of our lives. In the future, let’s keep an eye on the new technologies to help minimize food waste, and let’s implement what makes sense both at work and at home. By working together, we can make significant changes happen.