The food we eat isn’t the only part of the process that is harming the environment. It’s the distance it travelled, how it’s packaged, the use of pesticides, how it’s famed, the waste, and more! But there are a few simple swaps we can make to help reduce our impact with food.
1) Buy Less
In 2018, we threw away 6.6 million tonnes of household food, 70% of that being food that we could have eaten (Wrap). This demonstrates the enormity of the issue. Even more concerning is that when food waste ends up in landfill it produces methane, a greenhouse gas worse than CO2. Globally, we could cut the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production by 11% if we stopped wasting food (WWF).
So what can you do?
Buying less is key to not wasting food. To help you do this, meal plan for the week. Not only does this clearly tell you what you need to buy each given week, but it also prevents you from wasting food. If you know when and how you’re going to use every item you buy there’s no room for waste. But, if you do have excess food consider freezing, donating or composting!
2) Buy Local
The carbon emissions associated with transporting food around the world is enormous, so shopping locally – and seasonally – can hugely reduce your food footprint.
One great way to do this is to support your local farmers. There are many different companies now that offer fresh fruit and veg deliveries. The Independent has a great article on the best veg box companies, and Oddbox are a great way to rescue odd/surplus fruit and veg. A quick Google search can help you find services in your local area. You’d be surprised at how many local farms offer this service! Just make sure you order seasonal fruit/veg too.
Also, consider getting your milk, and other essential groceries, delivered plastic-free. Milk and More is a great option for this.
3) Choose the Right Store
Did you know that every year Oxfam ranks UK supermarkets on issues of human rights and treatment of local farmers?
The Oxfam Storecard is a great tool to align your beliefs with your shopping habits. Have a look and see where your favourite supermarket ranks. It might just make you think twice about shopping there.
I hope this shows you that there are other ways to reduce your diets impact outside of going vegan. Not everybody has the money or the means to go plant based. Alongside reducing the amount of meat/dairy you consumer, these steps will help you further.
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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.
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- Naomi x
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