How to eat sustainably?
| How can we achieve sustainable eating habits in our daily lives? What about simple, cost effective practices to save water? It is a complex issue with multiple solutions. As individuals, we can make a difference by being conscious of what we consume and how much. The global push towards sustainable food systems is becoming more urgent as the effects of climate change intensify. It is crucial for governments, private and public sectors, and individuals to collaborate and take action towards this issue. To eat sustainably, we can start by consuming a more plant-based diet, reducing food waste, choosing local and seasonal produce, and supporting sustainable food practices. To promote sustainable food production, bottom-up initiatives can be powerful in the absence of swift government and private company action. We can drive change through the basic economics of supply and demand. Shifting our diet will eventually result in a shift in the production landscape. |
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Sustainable food and water practices
So, back to our question on how to eat sustainably, let's explore a list of sustainable eating practices we could adopt.
I. Easy to implement sustainable eating practices
Eat different types of food – Get more nutrients by diversifying the foods you eat. This way you preserve your health and reduce the demand for certain types of food that have a higher impact on the environment.
Eat more plant-based food – Opting for plant-based foods promotes health and requires less energy to produce than raising livestock. These foods also have the added benefit of transforming CO2 into oxygen during growth. It's important to note that a sudden change in your diet may have side effects, so gradual adjustments are highly recommended.
This video explains the core problems related to meat : VIDEO
Eat seasonal food – One effective way to reduce your nutritional carbon footprint is by consuming seasonal foods that do not require excessive energy or special treatments to grow, such as avoiding strawberries in January. If you are looking for recipe ideas, consider visiting restaurants that specialise in seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
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.
Grow your own food – Not only can you cut down emissions from storage and transport, but your crop will absorb some carbon dioxide too. It does not require extensive farmlands, just use your balcony, your window or a community garden nearby.
Eat food from verified sources/certified food – Familiarising yourself with certifications can help you identify sustainably sourced products, indicated on their packaging. Certificates such as Rainforest Alliance's green frog logo, MSC's sustainable fishing certificate, and Fairtrade ensure responsible production, fair treatment of people involved, and responsible resource use. Although the system isn't perfect, it's a quasi-solution until a better alternative is available to make our nutrition more sustainable.
Avoid food waste – In the EU, nearly 57 million tonnes of food waste (127 kg/inhabitant) are generated annually. To reduce waste, you can start by adjusting the amount of food you buy. In case you do not have animals or a compost bin where to throw the leftovers, in order to reduce your waste you can creatively use by-products in other dishes, like making flour or chips from apple peels.
Pass on plastic - Plastic has infiltrated our natural world and even our diets. Bring a reusable-bag when you shop, opt for packaging-free fruit and vegetables where possible, and ask brands and retailers that continue to use plastic to find alternatives.
You don’t necessarily have to look for certain labels on foods to know they’re sustainable. Some crops and food products are naturally more sustainable than others. By definition, sustainable foods are those that meet the nutritional requirements of humans while minimising environmental harm. As such, the majority of sustainable foods are plant-based foods like vegetables and legumes rather than animal products like meat and poultry. Examples of sustainable foods include the following:
Vegetables: Beans, lentils, and peas are among the most sustainable foods. They require little water and have a minimal carbon footprint. They also can be grown easily without nitrogen-based fertilisers, and even act as nitrogen fixers, helping fortify the soil with nutrients.
Cruciferous vegetables: Vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are sustainable foods because they contain compounds that naturally resist pests, minimising the need to use insecticides.
Mussels: Bivalves like mussels are usually relatively sustainable foods. Their cultivation actually reduces environmental damage because they thrive on microscopic organic matter, some of which is otherwise a pollutant (such as agricultural runoff).
The type of food isn’t the only variable that influences its sustainability, so not all plant-based foods are necessarily sustainable. The sustainability of a food depends on the crop itself, the farming practices used, where it was grown versus consumed, and other aspects of production.
II. Easy to implement water saving practices
Save Bathroom Water and Shower
Collect water when opening the tap – Opening the tap lets the water from the faucet and the pipes run out first, which is too tepid for drinking but not warm enough for cooking or cleaning. By collecting this water and using it to water flowers or just putting it in the fridge in a bottle for drinking is a better solution than having litres of water running down the drains.
Use a tub to collect water used for washing fruits and vegetables – Collecting the water which would otherwise end up down the drain is also a viable practice. The collected water can be used for watering the lawn\flowers or filling up the toilet tank.
Upgrade older household appliances – For many people it is not feasible to change them all at once, although governmental programs can help with financial incentives. Newer washing machines are using ≈20 litres less water for example than older models.
Do experiments – Normally the fact that we should close the tap during shaving or teeth brushing is almost self-evident. In case you have doubts regarding the efficiency of these simple things try out and keep a vessel under the tap while you brush your teeth. The same can be done with hand washing, it can make a real difference in how much you open the tap during hand washing.
Use the water collected by the dehumidifier – In case you own a dehumidifier you can utilise the water it collects for different purposes around the house, anything but pouring it directly in the sink.
Harvest rain water - The most basic way to collect rainwater is to install a barrel connected to a pipe which takes the water to a storing reservoir. You can store this water and can later purify it to make usable water or can use it for washing or watering plants.
Conserve water in the garden
• Plant in blocks instead of rows to create shade for plant root systems and reduce evaporation.
• Group plants with similar water needs together.
• Consider using drip irrigation to reduce evaporation and apply water only where needed.
• Control weeds that compete with vegetables for water.
I. Easy to implement sustainable eating practices
Source: www.freepik.com
Eat different types of food – Get more nutrients by diversifying the foods you eat. This way you preserve your health and reduce the demand for certain types of food that have a higher impact on the environment.
Eat more plant-based food – Opting for plant-based foods promotes health and requires less energy to produce than raising livestock. These foods also have the added benefit of transforming CO2 into oxygen during growth. It's important to note that a sudden change in your diet may have side effects, so gradual adjustments are highly recommended.
This video explains the core problems related to meat : VIDEO
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Eat seasonal food – One effective way to reduce your nutritional carbon footprint is by consuming seasonal foods that do not require excessive energy or special treatments to grow, such as avoiding strawberries in January. If you are looking for recipe ideas, consider visiting restaurants that specialise in seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
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.
Grow your own food – Not only can you cut down emissions from storage and transport, but your crop will absorb some carbon dioxide too. It does not require extensive farmlands, just use your balcony, your window or a community garden nearby.
Eat food from verified sources/certified food – Familiarising yourself with certifications can help you identify sustainably sourced products, indicated on their packaging. Certificates such as Rainforest Alliance's green frog logo, MSC's sustainable fishing certificate, and Fairtrade ensure responsible production, fair treatment of people involved, and responsible resource use. Although the system isn't perfect, it's a quasi-solution until a better alternative is available to make our nutrition more sustainable.
Avoid food waste – In the EU, nearly 57 million tonnes of food waste (127 kg/inhabitant) are generated annually. To reduce waste, you can start by adjusting the amount of food you buy. In case you do not have animals or a compost bin where to throw the leftovers, in order to reduce your waste you can creatively use by-products in other dishes, like making flour or chips from apple peels.
Pass on plastic - Plastic has infiltrated our natural world and even our diets. Bring a reusable-bag when you shop, opt for packaging-free fruit and vegetables where possible, and ask brands and retailers that continue to use plastic to find alternatives.
You don’t necessarily have to look for certain labels on foods to know they’re sustainable. Some crops and food products are naturally more sustainable than others. By definition, sustainable foods are those that meet the nutritional requirements of humans while minimising environmental harm. As such, the majority of sustainable foods are plant-based foods like vegetables and legumes rather than animal products like meat and poultry. Examples of sustainable foods include the following:
Vegetables: Beans, lentils, and peas are among the most sustainable foods. They require little water and have a minimal carbon footprint. They also can be grown easily without nitrogen-based fertilisers, and even act as nitrogen fixers, helping fortify the soil with nutrients.
Cruciferous vegetables: Vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are sustainable foods because they contain compounds that naturally resist pests, minimising the need to use insecticides.
Mussels: Bivalves like mussels are usually relatively sustainable foods. Their cultivation actually reduces environmental damage because they thrive on microscopic organic matter, some of which is otherwise a pollutant (such as agricultural runoff).
The type of food isn’t the only variable that influences its sustainability, so not all plant-based foods are necessarily sustainable. The sustainability of a food depends on the crop itself, the farming practices used, where it was grown versus consumed, and other aspects of production.
II. Easy to implement water saving practices
Source: www.freepik.com
Save Bathroom Water and Shower
- Turn off the water when brushing teeth and save 25 gallons per month.
- Turn off the water when shaving and save up to 300 gallons per month.
- Install low-flow faucet aerators on all your household faucets.
- Check and repair faucet leaks and save up to 140 gallons of water per week.
- Install a low-flow showerhead.
- Keep your showers brief. A shower that lasts for five minutes using a low-flow showerhead uses 12 gallons of water. Consider using a timer to help control the time you are in the shower. Turn off the water while you lather up with soap and shampoo.
- Check and repair leaks from all shower and tub valves.
Collect water when opening the tap – Opening the tap lets the water from the faucet and the pipes run out first, which is too tepid for drinking but not warm enough for cooking or cleaning. By collecting this water and using it to water flowers or just putting it in the fridge in a bottle for drinking is a better solution than having litres of water running down the drains.
Use a tub to collect water used for washing fruits and vegetables – Collecting the water which would otherwise end up down the drain is also a viable practice. The collected water can be used for watering the lawn\flowers or filling up the toilet tank.
Upgrade older household appliances – For many people it is not feasible to change them all at once, although governmental programs can help with financial incentives. Newer washing machines are using ≈20 litres less water for example than older models.
Do experiments – Normally the fact that we should close the tap during shaving or teeth brushing is almost self-evident. In case you have doubts regarding the efficiency of these simple things try out and keep a vessel under the tap while you brush your teeth. The same can be done with hand washing, it can make a real difference in how much you open the tap during hand washing.
Use the water collected by the dehumidifier – In case you own a dehumidifier you can utilise the water it collects for different purposes around the house, anything but pouring it directly in the sink.
Harvest rain water - The most basic way to collect rainwater is to install a barrel connected to a pipe which takes the water to a storing reservoir. You can store this water and can later purify it to make usable water or can use it for washing or watering plants.
Conserve water in the garden
• Plant in blocks instead of rows to create shade for plant root systems and reduce evaporation.
• Group plants with similar water needs together.
• Consider using drip irrigation to reduce evaporation and apply water only where needed.
• Control weeds that compete with vegetables for water.
Source: www.freepik.com
Greenwashing your food
The sustainable food industry is often marred by misleading marketing tactics. The use of terms like "organic," "local," and "non-GMO" can drive up prices, making eco-friendly choices a luxury. However, the supposed benefits of these products are not always proven to be true. It's essential to research and understand the legitimacy of claims made by brands.
The next few videos, based on research, reveal the misleading marketing and unreliable studies behind some "bio" or "organic" products. As consumers, it's crucial to be aware of such practices and make informed choices. Choose wholegrain, unprocessed foods and consider supporting local producers with sustainable practices. This promotes both health and environmental responsibility.
The next few videos, based on research, reveal the misleading marketing and unreliable studies behind some "bio" or "organic" products. As consumers, it's crucial to be aware of such practices and make informed choices. Choose wholegrain, unprocessed foods and consider supporting local producers with sustainable practices. This promotes both health and environmental responsibility.
