Inmesol Joins in the Celebration
World Environment Day is an annual event established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly in order to promote awareness in the different sectors of the social fabric about the environment and our responsibility to future generations.
The theme for year’s celebration of World Environment Day is food resources management. Its slogan “Think. Eat. Save. Reduce Your Footprint” is a continuation of the “Save Food” Global Initiative of the United Nations Agency FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization), which is sponsored by the organisers of the Messe Düsseldorf Trade Fair and the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program). It also continues to promote the Zero Hunger Challenge programme announced by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. The aim of this latter initiative is that everybody – at home and at work – should be an active agent in the struggle against food waste.
Food for Thought
- The world population presently exceeds 7 billion inhabitants. One third of global food production is wasted while 870 million people suffer from malnutrition, 20,000 children of under five years of age die of hunger every day and one in every seven people cannot meet their basic food needs because they lack economic resources.
- The fact that one third of world food production is lost somewhere between the harvester and the consumer entails an unnecessary toll on the environment in terms of energy, land, fertiliser and water.
- If food storage facilities in developing countries were improved, together with the effectiveness of their supply chains, the amount of food loss could be reduced.
- The demand of many consumers in the developed world for aesthetic perfection in the food they buy has disastrous consequences for farmers.
- In the developed world, homes, food stores, supermarkets and restaurants throw away vast quantities of food. This ends up in rubbish dumps releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Reduce Your Food Footprint
We can all make a personal contribution towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
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The UN Goodwill Ambassadors Gisele Bündchen and Don Cheadle speak to every one of us in this video, which has been produced expressly to draw our attention to World Environment Day (in English).
Our personal and collective decisions have a great influence in the imbalances that appear in society and in their environmental impact. Hence, in order to make a contribution towards changing the present situation and reducing massive food waste, saving money and minimising the impact of production, the first step is to be well informed. The second step is taking measures like the following:
- Support fair trade.
- Be attentive and efficient in terms of sell-by date and other forms of labelling.
- Shop rationally and buy only what is necessary.
- Use up extra food products and leftovers at home.
- Use available technology to reduce the quantity of products which, once harvested, are lost before they reach markets.
[youtube height=»360″ width=»640″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntxnb3HyHV8&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]
Video made by Zero Waste SA explaining how the restaurant and catering industry can save money and contribute towards a more sustainable world by being more effective in their management of resources (in English).
Protecting the Environment: A Campaign for Every Day
Every action counts and, when actions multiply, the effects are exponential.
The environmental impact of our actions has large-scale consequences: water scarcity, desertisation, social and economic threats and so on. If we are to reduce these problems, it is essential that every single one of us makes a daily effort at home, in bars and restaurants and businesses. Governments should also show their concern by making clear political decisions in this regard.
Inmesol, a Company Committed to the Environment
In Inmesol, we are aware that we can contribute towards caring for the environment by making company decisions that will have a positive impact. We have therefore introduced an Environmental Management System for which our company has been awarded the Environmental Management Certificate ISO 14001.
When carrying out its work, the engineering team from Inmesol’s R&D department takes into account the factors that make our machines environmentally “friendly” in the settings in which they are installed, as well as towards the people who are going to operate them.
The design of our hybrid system generator set aims at achieving a significant reduction in fuel consumption, as is also the case with our LED light towers. Moreover, our soundproof bodywork, which is considered to be world class, is another clear example of how pollution can be reduced by keeping noise emissions to a minimum.
Mongolia, Host Country of World Environment Day 2013
Mongolia now has one of the world’s fastest growing economies and a president, Tsakhia Elbegdorj, who received the United Nations Environmental Program Champions of the Earth award in 2012. This award seeks to recognise leaders who introduce environmental programmes with a positive impact.
Mongolia is taking measures in order to carry out a transition towards a green economy: it has suspended the issuance of all new mining licences, supports renewable energy, has passed laws aimed at reducing air pollution, and fosters environmental awareness among youth. It has also sought advice from international experts regarding the initiatives it will take in future.