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Ditching plastic to reduce food waste Chef Dario is a professional mobile chef whose passion for cooking has spurred him on to fulfilling his commitment towards waste-reduction in the food industry. The main rule of thumb, he says, is to buy fresh produce and avoid pre-packaged food - a zero-waste cooking concept. THERE is an ever-increasing awareness of how much waste we generate daily. A quick glance at the newsfeed on Facebook and you’re sure to come across a clip about the devastating effect pollution is having on planet earth. Apart from the ever-growing concern of global warming, there is also the alarming degradation of the environment due to the tons of waste produced by the food industry and enemy number one – excessive plastic packaging! Malta is a microcosm of what is happening globally. The difference is that, because it is a small island, the effects of pollution are much more tangible than countries with vast tracts of land where landfills are out of sight and out of mind. The two largest contributors to waste production on this island are the construction industry and the food
industry, due to the boom in tourism and consumerism in the past few years. This has created an ever-growing trend towards finding solutions for waste reduction, especially amongst the younger generation, who are developing interesting and innovative ideas into boutique businesses, reviving the principles of our forefathers. The only difference being that, back then, things were built to last, while today, we are living a fast and disposable lifestyle which has led to the situation we face today. Every setback is also an opportunity for growth and change. My concern for the environment was what spurred me on to steer my business towards a plastic-free concept. Finding alternatives to plastic is possible, though sometimes challenging,
but it has given me the scope to be more creative in the way I prepare, cook and present my food. One of the first principles I apply is to always opt for fresh ingredients. I prefer local produce, especially fruit and vegetables, primarily because I like to support local farmers, secondly because the transportation from where they are grown to the retail outlet or market is less than imported produce and finally because they can be bought off the shelf and, for the most part, do not come wrapped in plastic. Those that are, I do my best to wash the containers and return them to shops that will reuse them. As much as possible, I try to support organic farming since this uses a minimal amount of pesticide. It is heartening to see that more and more
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