Amics de la Terra Eivissa is calling for greater use of local, seasonal and bulk food products in Ibiza as part of efforts to reduce food waste and its environmental impact.

The environmental organisation made the appeal on Sunday, September 27, ahead of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste Reduction on September 29, highlighting food waste as an environmental, social and ethical issue.

Why food waste matters

Food waste involves much more than the food itself, as resources including water, land and energy are used throughout production, transport, storage and disposal.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme's Food Waste Index Report 2024, around 1.05 billion tonnes of food were wasted worldwide in 2022 across households, food service and retail.

Households accounted for around 60% of the total, followed by food service with 28% and retail with 12%.

UNEP estimates that food loss and waste contribute between 8% and 10% of global greenhouse-gas emissions.

Ibiza's island conditions

Amics de la Terra argues that the issue has an additional dimension in Ibiza because of the island's dependence on imported food and maritime transport.

The organisation says that food arriving on the island can travel hundreds of kilometres and may require additional transport, refrigeration and packaging.

For this reason, it is encouraging residents and consumers to choose locally produced and seasonal food where possible, as well as products sold in bulk.

The organisation says this approach can help reduce transport and packaging while supporting Ibiza's agricultural sector and local shops.

Making better use of organic waste

Amics de la Terra is also encouraging households to manage food and other organic waste correctly.

Its recommendations include learning to compost at home where possible and using the brown organic-waste container correctly, rather than putting food waste into general rubbish.

The advice is particularly relevant because organic waste collected separately in Ibiza is treated at the Ca na Putxa environmental area.

What happens at Ca na Putxa

The Consell d'Eivissa's waste-treatment facilities at Ca na Putxa process separately collected organic material through a combination of biometanisation and composting.

The biometanisation process produces biogas, which is used at the facility to generate electricity. The Consell says the plant uses the electricity for its own consumption and sends surplus electricity to the island's grid.

Following treatment, the organic material is also converted into compost which can be used in agriculture.

Traditional ways of reducing waste

Amics de la Terra is also calling for greater use of traditional ways of making food go further.

The organisation highlights dishes such as vegetable creams, preserves and traditional sweets as examples of ways to use food that remains suitable for consumption rather than throwing it away.

It describes this approach using the expression "sa mirada de ses güeles", referring to older household practices centred on using what was available, cooking with seasonal ingredients and avoiding unnecessary waste.

Local food and seasonal consumption

The organisation's appeal brings together several ideas: buying food produced on the island when available, choosing products that are in season, avoiding unnecessary packaging and making proper use of organic-waste collection.

Amics de la Terra argues that these everyday decisions can reduce some of the environmental impacts associated with producing, transporting and disposing of food that is ultimately not eaten.

A wider challenge for Ibiza

Food waste is a global issue, but the organisation's message places particular emphasis on Ibiza's island geography and its food-supply system.

With September 29 marking the United Nations' International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste Reduction, Amics de la Terra is using the occasion to encourage residents to look at how food is bought, stored, cooked and discarded.

The organisation's message is simple: making better use of food already available, choosing local and seasonal products where possible and separating organic waste can all form part of efforts to reduce waste on the island.