Scots have been urged to take a fresh look at tinned food which eco campaigners say lasts longer, reduces waste and can be easily recycled.
Zero Waste Scotland said “misconceptions” about canned goods were driving shoppers to spend more on fresh food which they end up chucking away. New research by the green agency found a majority of Scots had issues with tinned cuisine, with a fifth saying they feel cans are a “last resort” food option.
A third of those surveyed associated tinned foods like beans and soup with groups such as students and elderly people. But ZWS said these shelf staples are cost-effective options that last for years and contain plenty of nutrients - adding the average household throws eight meals’ worth of fresh grub away every week.
Food waste accounts for a whopping 30 per cent of the carbon footprint from household rubbish - and 70 per cent of all Scotland’s food waste comes from homes. Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Staggeringly, UK households waste the equivalent of eight meals a week because food is stored incorrectly or not used in time.
“But with the price of food going up it makes even more sense to waste as little as possible. Tins are a staple in any kitchen cupboard, but it’s easy to overlook their ability to help us tackle the amount of food we waste.
“They’re convenient and can be easily recycled at home. That makes them a win-win for both cutting food waste and avoiding sending unnecessary packaging to landfill. Tinned food can help even those of us with the busiest schedules make the most of the food we love, creating ‘tin-spired’ recipes with quality ingredients that are there when we need them.”
Food tins are usually made from steel, which is 100 per cent recyclable and can be reprocessed again and again. All cans including pet food tins and larger food tins such as those containing sweets and biscuits are accepted as kerbside recycling in all 32 council areas in Scotland.
People are advised to remove the lid, empty and rinse the can, carefully put the lid in the bottom of the can then squash the can when putting it in recycling. ZWS’ poll of 1000 Scots was carried out online by YouGov from February 16 to 20.
Asked what prevented them from eating more canned food, 21 per cent of those surveyed said it felt “like a last resort”, while 20 per cent said it was less healthy than other food. Some 16 per cent also said it was difficult to make meals at home from tins.
Asked what types of shoppers they typically associated with cans, 19 per cent said students, 14 per cent said elderly people, 15 per cent said people who were “money-savvy” and 10 per cent said people with an unhealthy diet.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
READ NEXT:
How to cook a 'perfectly juicy' steak as chefs share their professional tips
Charity demands urgent salmon farming 'summit' with Scottish ministers after 16.5m deaths
Sir David Attenborough warns 'nature in crisis' as Scots charities launch campaign to save it
