The scientific consensus is clear: Eating plant-based is the best dietary option to support planetary health (1).
Ethical considerations aside, a plant-dominant diet saves substantial amounts of resources, such as water and grains, compared to a diet heavy with animal-based foods. Whilst generally less resource-intense than omnivorous diets, not all plant-based diets are equally eco-friendly.
Here are 4 simple tips to make a plant-based diet even more sustainable.
1) Buy Local
There are many excellent reasons to buy local. For one, supporting regional businesses can boost the local economy, foster community, and preserve cultural heritage. The cherry on top: Buying your fruits and veggies from local farmers also has a positive impact on the planet.
First, buying local produce doesn’t need to be shipped thousands of miles to land on your plate. Optimally, the food supply chain is as short as farm to table. This significantly reduces the hefty amount of environmental pollution caused by transport emissions.
Second, local fruit and veg produce less overall waste. Not only do products that travel long distances require more (single-use) packaging, long supply chains also increase the chances of foods being damaged and wasted as a result.
Lastly, small independent farms are worth supporting to protect farmland and biodiversity. Large agricultural corporations typically rely on monocropping, a farming practice by which the same crop is planted on the same land year after year. The lack of crop rotation is infamous for depleting the soil of important nutrients, increasing the crop’s vulnerability to parasites, and reducing biodiversity. On In contrast, independent farms with smaller acreage are likely to follow more sustainable farming practices.
2) Eat Seasonal
Eating fresh strawberries in December? The globalized food supply chain makes it possible. But intentionally copying the grocery habits of our great-grandparents wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
By default, our ancestors’ consumption habits followed the principle of local seasonality. Local seasonality refers to produce that is harvested and consumed locally during the natural growing season (2).
Reintroducing this principle to our modern-day grocery habits is an effective way to reduce the environmental impact of our diet. Eating in accordance with the seasons plays in to the first tip, since seasonal produce is best bought locally. Not only is this practice budget-friendly, it also eliminates the need for long-distance transport its ample environmental impact.
3) Focus on Minimally Processed Whole-Foods
It’s common knowledge that a diet primarily consisting of minimally processed foods is conducive to human health. However, the fact that whole-foods are also more eco-friendly than processed foods is less evident.
The more processed a food, the more industrial steps are involved in its production. Naturally, this entails a higher use of natural resources, commodities, and energy compared to the farming of fruit and veg.
Additionally, processed food products all rely on (single-use) packaging, while many plant foods can be bought unpackaged and in bulk. Besides the obvious environmental considerations, the colossal industry conglomerates behind many processed food brands are often involved in unsustainable (and unethical) practices across the globe. As individual consumers, we vote with our money. Passing on the products of controversial industry giants serves as a pledge for a more sustainable global food system.
Read more about why ultra-processed foods are bad for the environment here.
4) Switch to Organic
Eating a plant-based organic diet is far better for the planet. Not only does organic farming create healthier, more nutrient dense food, it also helps reduce CO2 emissions. Using artificial fertilizers or pesticides is banned in organic farming which helps keep the soil healthy.
Did you know, soils absorb more carbon than plants, trees and the atmosphere combined? In fact, organic soils sequester 25% more carbon than non-organic farms. Farming organically is key to mitigating the impacts of climate change. By supporting British-based organic farmers you can help reduce food miles, carbon emissions and protect our soils.
Thank you to Angelina from @ecoworlder (website) for collaborating with me on this topic! 💚