Restaurants (to go, leftovers

This problem can be seen from several different angles. Firstly, it is a psychological problem, where we seek the comfort of knowing that we have a lot: it gives us the feeling that we are safe and protected from poverty and hunger. Secondly, it’s an economic and political problem. We live in a strict system where shops and factories want us to buy as much as possible so that they can earn money. Capitalism is one of the positive aspects of modern society, but it brings with it some terrible consequences, and one is this sickness of buying waste ("junk" we don’t need). We can’t end capitalism, because it has taken root in our society – although alternatives, such as Marxism, have been proposed – but we can look at ourselves, and take control of our lives and our manner of shopping. Every time you find yourself wanting to buy something, simply ask yourself: "Do I really need this?" Don’t blindly buy it because of a desire in that moment. We should also pay attention to what materials are we buying – we must avoid plastic and paper at all costs.

Anna Ćaleta

First of all, we should try to avoid restaurants and fast food chains whenever possible. At the very least, we can try to find local ones that are not owned by multinational corporations. Big food chains have a higher carbon footprint because they mostly serve food that they have pre-cooked or pre-packaged in other parts of the world, making single-use packaging inevitable. Try cooking from scratch as much as you can – start with a basic recipe, and then play with it a little by adding new ingredients or spicing it up. For work/a picnic/etc., you can prepare lunch and put it in a reusable container or glass jar, or use reusable wax-wrap for bread, sandwiches or fruit, and bring your own cutlery and cloth napkins. You don't have to buy anything new: just use what you already have at home. For those who are dependent on take-out food, there are also solutions.

Research nearby restaurants. Contact your favourite restaurant about their food suppliers, and ask if they use seasonal fruits and vegetables, or imported ones. Maybe they have local, ethical suppliers. Local foraging not only helps local farmers and growers, but has a smaller carbon footprint. Some restaurants have a compost bin for their food scraps, or donate leftover food to the homeless, which is always a positive thing. Additionally, you can find out if they use reusable dishes or only disposables, and if the latter, ask them if it is possible to bring your own cup and containers. They might even offer a discount if you bring your own reusables, so you can save money! When ordering, refuse straw or paper napkins. If they forget and still bring them, take them away with you – give them to someone, use them later (when you forget your own), or reuse them in other ways. Every so often, restaurants might refuse to put take-out food into your own containers because of sanitary regulations in their country. You can still avoid this rule (when the restaurant has reusable dishes) by ordering food to be brought to the table, so you can put it into your container yourself. You can do the same if you have leftovers on your plate, and take them with you for later.