With it being Veganuary, what better time to discuss eating better for the planet?
If you're a vegan for environmental reasons, then this blog post is for you. Reducing your food footprint is not just about cutting out meat and dairy, but most importantly - being aware of where and how your food is sourced.
Don't get me wrong, eating plant based does have great benefits for the planet. For instance, you're using less water and producing less greenhouse gases associated with modern farming - like methane. In fact, eating one less serving of beef each week is the equivalent to driving 348 miles in a car. Similarly, one quarter pounder burger uses 10 bathtubs of water to be produced! There's no denying that meat production requires a lot of resources and impacts the planet negatively.
However...eating a solely plant based diet will not rectify the issues of our Western food system. If you're relying on fruits and vegetables, such as avocados, which are grown (largely) unsustainably in foreign countries then you're still contributing to the issues of our food system. When you consider the air miles associated with many of our favourite plant-based staples, or the plastic packaging used to protect our favourite processes vegan substitutes, then we still have NOT solved the problem.
This is why leading a place-based diet can have such an impact. By considering where your food is sourced, and how it gets to your plate, can have a great an impact as eating less animal products.
For example, why not try supporting your local farmers? By shopping locally you can invest in your local economy but also be more aware of how your food was produced. Was it kind to the land and the people that farm it? Was it organically farmed or did they use harmful pesticides? These are not questions that can be answered when picking up fruit and veg in our local supermarket - you can never be truly sure.
This Veganuary consider combining a plant-based diet with a place-based mentality. Support your local greengrocer, investing in your local economy and the future of the planet whilst you do so 💚
This month we're sharing lots of content on our Instagram about how to take part in Veganuary, from simple vegan meals to vegan skincare options and how to reduce your food waste! So make sure to give us a follow and join the community there.
Our featured brand this month is Wild Dew, a plastic-free vegan skincare brand - make sure to check out their amazing product here. Shop small and shop vegan this month!
Hi, thank you for reading the All Things Green blog! 💚
We share simple eco friendly tips to help you lead an imperfect sustainable lifestyle. We believe that "small steps are still steps" and that we can all have a positive impact on the planet - no matter how small.
Have a flick through our website to find out more about our story, take advantage of some exciting eco discounts or read our previous blog posts.
- Naomi x
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