Too Good To Go Blog

HOW FOOD WASTE AFFECTS WATER: HOW MUCH WATER IS HIDDEN IN YOUR FAVORITE FOODS?

This World Water Day, let's dive into the water we can't see—the water hidden in the foods we eat. How many glasses of water go into producing a 201 gram avocado?

That's 1,164 glasses!

Every time we waste food, we waste the water used to grow and process it. Reducing food waste is one of the simplest ways to protect the planet and avoid the unnecessary use of this vital resource.

WHY IS AVOIDING WATER WASTE IMPORTANT?

Avoiding water waste matters because water is essential for everything—our health, growing food, and keeping the environment balanced. But with more people on the planet and changes in climate, clean water is getting harder to come by in some places. By wasting less, we can help make sure there’s enough to go around now and in the future.

HOW DOES WASTING FOOD WASTE WATER?

Wasting food means unnecessarily wasting the water that went into producing it—from irrigation and cleaning to packaging. For example, a single burger (with a bun, meat, lettuce, and tomatoes) requires about 12,490 glasses of water to make. Throwing it away wastes not just the food, but the vast resources behind it.

WHAT IS THE WATER FOOTPRINT OF FOOD?

The water footprint is the total volume of water used to produce a unit of food, from farm to fork. Learn more about how to calculate it at waterfootprint.org.

HOW MUCH WATER DOES IT TAKE TO PRODUCE COMMON FOODS?

The water footprint of some everyday foods might surprise you.

It takes:
💧 2,412 glasses of water to produce a 300g loaf of wheat bread
💧 1,164 glasses for a 201g avocado
💧 1,000 glasses for a 60g egg
💧 660 glasses for one 125ml cup of coffee

See it here

HOW CAN YOU AVOID WASTING WATER WITH TOO GOOD TO GO?

By rescuing unsold food with Too Good To Go, you’re not just reducing food waste—you’re also avoiding the unnecessary use of water. Every meal saved means fewer resources wasted and a step toward a more sustainable future.

Download the Too Good To Go app today and create a positive ripple effect.
Together, we can make every drop count.

Disclaimer:
For Water Footprint of Avocado: Data Source: Water Footprint Calculator, 2025. Considering a 200ml glass of water.

For Water Footprint of Wheat Bread, Coffee, Egg and Hamburger: Data compiled, converted, and produced by Water Footprint Calculator. Data Source: Hoekstra & The Water Footprint Network (2017). Considering a 200ml glass of water.