Case study: bread

What does it take to turn grains of wheat into the loaf of bread in our shopping trolley? Which valuable resources are used to create and distribute it? How many tonnes of CO₂ are emitted? How much is lost during processing? What happens to the loaves I don’t buy?

Watch this video to discover the shocking waste statistics for baked goods.

In Britain, 99.8% of households buy bread, and proceed to throw nearly half of it away. All the resources that have gone into producing it, wasted.

Why do you think we throw so much bread away? Understanding why helps identify ways to reduce the problem. Can you think of any? Please share your thoughts with other learners in the comments section below.