Most of us try and do our part to live a more sustainable life these days. Whether that means regularly recycling, biking to work or bringing our own bags to the supermarket, there are a number of little things we can do throughout the day to lessen our impact on the environment. But one thing that virtually no one is doing a very good job of is reducing our food waste.
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Between 30 and 40 percent of food in the U.S. is wasted every year, according to the USDA’s own estimates. That’s equal to more than 130 billion pounds of food which, uh, seems like an awful lot. This waste is a major contributor to climate change, as well as a tremendous waste of money for consumers.
A good chunk of that food is wasted due to spoilage. I can’t tell you how many times I bought some fresh produce at the grocery store only to have it turn mushy and moldy after two days in the fridge. After that, it goes into the trash, because I don’t live in a space where composting is realistic.
But now, an innovative gadget on Kickstarter is looking to reduce food waste by making your food last longer.
The gadget is called Shelfy, and it’s produced by a company called Vitesy. The brand is known for its air purifiers — including a nifty one that works in conjunction with a potted plant — and Shelfy marks their fourth successful Kickstarter project. The device, which is roughly the size of your hand, sits in your refrigerator and acts as a mini air purifier. Shelfy filters out the bacteria and fungi that cause your food to spoil by driving them through a photocatalytic filter.
