7 Ways To Reduce Your Food Carbon Footprint
Every action we take will impact our environment, it’s just part of being alive. One way we impact the planet every day is the food choices we make.
Making small changes to what and how you eat can help reduce your food carbon footprint and lessen the environmental impact of your diet. Here are 7 ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your diet.
Eat more plants
It’s no secret, most people know that farming animals for meat and dairy requires space and huge amounts of water and feed. The livestock industry alone generates nearly 15% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Swapping a few meals a week for meatless alternatives can make a big difference to your total carbon produced, without completely turning over your usual meal plans. For inspiration, why not look up meatless Monday meal ideas?
Eat more variety
75% of the world’s food supply comes from just 12 plants and five animal species. Greater diversity in our diets is essential as the lack of variety in agriculture is both bad for nature and a threat to food security. Plus, the more variety you have in your diets the more variety of nutrients you get. You should aim to ‘eat the rainbow’ and try lots of different fruits and vegetables if you can.
Make responsible seafood choices
Roughly 94% of fish stocks are overfished (34%) or maximally sustainably fished (60%), and aquaculture has its own issues. But when responsibly produced, seafood can benefit people, nature, and climate. Try a diversity of species from well-managed sources, eat lower in the food chain, and opt for lower carbon emission seafood. The easiest way to reduce the impact of eating seafood is to cut down on the amount you eat. Keep meat and fish as an occasional treat and focus on plant based options to make a real difference.
Cut the waste
Food waste is a big problem. 30% of the food produced is wasted, with serious repercussions for the environment. In fact, if food waste was a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the USA. Reducing waste in your household is simple: freeze anything you can’t eat while it’s fresh and, where possible, buy loose produce so you can select the exact amount that you need. Don’t be shy about keeping leftovers and reusing them throughout the week as well. The less you waste the more you save.
An easy way to cut waste is to meal plan for the week and only buy what you need to avoid making impulse purchases at the till.
Choose seasonal and local produce
Eating seasonal produce reduces the demand for out-of-season fruits and vegetables that require energy-intensive cultivation methods or long-distance transportation. If you choose fruit that’s out of season, it has to be grown elsewhere and shipped to you increasing the carbon footprint of your meal. Choose locally grown and seasonal produce for a lower carbon footprint.
Reduce packaging
Opt for products with minimal or recyclable packaging to decrease the environmental impact associated with waste. Bringing reusable bags when shopping and choosing loose produce can also help reduce packaging waste.
Reduce your water usage
Being mindful of water usage in food preparation and cooking can reduce the amount of wasted water from cooking. For example, steaming vegetables instead of boiling can save water and preserve nutrients in the food. Don’t fill pans to the top, just enough to cover whatever you’re boiling to cut down on water waste.
By using these tips and tricks you can massively reduce the amount of carbon you generate from your diet. While this can’t be the complete solution to climate change, if everyone starts to make small adjustments like this then the impact adds up fast.
