New Bosch research reveals the hidden cost of food waste in British homes, with forgotten groceries and overcrowded fridges contributing to hundreds of pounds of avoidable waste each year
British households could be throwing away hundreds of pounds worth of food every year, according to new research from Bosch, as forgotten groceries, hidden ingredients and overcrowded fridges contribute to avoidable food waste.
A survey of 2,000 UK adults found that four in ten (39%) Brits discover food lurking at the back of their fridge every week that they had forgotten they bought, while households on average throw away £11.95 worth of food every week – equivalent to more than £18 billion* a year across all UK households.
Meanwhile one fifth (19%) admit they have accidentally bought groceries they already had at home after losing track of what was already in their fridge.
The findings reveal that fridge overcrowding has become a common challenge for British households, with 27% saying their fridge feels too cluttered to find things and 31% experiencing a lack of space after a supermarket shop.
The study also found:
- Half (52%) of Brits throw away food at least once a week because it goes off before they can use it
- Four in ten (39%) regularly discover forgotten food in their fridge
- 28% say fresh fruit and vegetables are the foods they waste most often
- A quarter (24%) say capacity is the most important feature when choosing a new fridge freezer
Bosch’s Head of Cooling, Caner Duran, said: “Food waste remains a major concern for households, particularly at a time when grocery bills continue to rise.
“Our research suggests that many people are throwing food away not because they intended to, but because it gets forgotten, hidden from view or isn’t stored effectively.
“When fridges become overcrowded, it becomes harder to keep track of ingredients, increasing the likelihood that food will be forgotten and ultimately thrown away.
“Having sufficient storage capacity, visibility and freshness technology can help households better organise their groceries, reduce waste and make more of the food they buy.”
Bosch’s XXL cooling range has been designed to help households reduce food waste by providing greater storage capacity, improved visibility and advanced freshness technology that helps ingredients stay fresher for longer.
The range enables families to store larger grocery shops more effectively, making it easier to see, organise and use food before it goes to waste.
The range includes:
- Bosch KFN96VPEAG Multi Door Fridge Freezer – RRP £1,399
XXL capacity multi-door fridge freezer featuring VitaFresh XXL storage, Multi Airflow technology and No Frost functionality, designed to help families organise larger grocery shops with ease. - Bosch KFF96PIEP Multi Door Fridge Freezer – RRP £2,499
Premium multi-door model featuring VitaFresh Pro technology, flexible storage solutions and integrated ice and water dispensing, helping keep fresh ingredients organised and accessible. - Bosch KFD96APEA Multi Door Fridge Freezer – RRP £1,399
Large-capacity multi-door fridge freezer with VitaFresh XXL freshness compartments, flexible storage options and integrated ice and water dispensing, ideal for busy households and those who love to entertain.
