As more people grow aware of the fact that 12.7 million tons worth of plastic is thrown into the oceans each year, many are trying to limit their personal waste. And while it can be hard to know where to start, the grocery aisle is first port of call for those looking to do their bit. British supermarket chain Iceland has pledged to cut down on plastic in its food packaging, Dutch chain Ekoplaza has an entirely biodegradable branch, and specialist stores Charlotte’s Cupboard and Clean Kilo are packaging-free, selling refills of items such as rice, dried fruit, chocolate, and coffee by the gram.

Food waste is a global crisis. Australians discard about 3.1 million tonnes of edible food a year. Researchers in South Australia are combatting this through sustainability initiatives, opening a $132 million Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to reduce food waste.

Food production has a bigger impact on the planet than anything else humans do, yet for all the natural resources spent, it’s estimated that a third of all food is squandered. Toast Ale is attempting to tackle the problem of wastage in a novel way – by making craft beer out of surplus bread.

Germany has a big problem when it comes to food wastage, which is contributing to the country’s carbon emissions. That’s why SirPlus, a supermarket that only sells ‘rescued food’, has been created, helping people minimise their impact on the environment while picking up their groceries.