How Can You Eat in a More Environmentally Friendly Way?

1. Reduce your meat consumption and eat more plant-based foods

Replacing beef with plant-based sources of protein is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions. If people around the world made just one dietary change—substituting beef with other protein sources such as legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products—global greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production could be reduced by as much as 25%.

Agriculture and livestock production account for approximately 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions—around twelve times more than emissions from air travel. Buying locally produced foods and reducing meat consumption are among the most effective ways to lower your carbon footprint, or "food footprint."

Start small: try going meat-free one day a week, get creative, and experiment with new recipes.

2. Buy locally produced cheese

Every dollar spent on food from a local producer generates up to three times more economic value for the local economy than a dollar spent at a large retail chain.

Locally produced cheese is often fresher than cheese that has been packaged and transported over long distances. In addition, natural cheeses produced from grass-fed animals can be excellent sources of highly bioavailable calcium and magnesium, as well as vitamins A, D3, and K2.

3. Freeze vegetable scraps and make homemade stock

When cooking with fresh ingredients, food scraps often end up in the bin. Once in landfill, these organic wastes decompose and release greenhouse gases such as methane.

If composting is not an option, consider saving your vegetable scraps instead of throwing them away. Store them in a container in your freezer until you have enough to make homemade vegetable stock.

Almost any mild-flavoured vegetables work well, especially kitchen staples such as onions, celery, and carrots. If the scraps were not washed before freezing, simply wash them before use.

4. Store fresh produce properly to extend its shelf life

Many fruits release a natural gas called ethylene, which causes nearby fruits and vegetables to ripen more quickly.

Store bananas, apples, and tomatoes separately from other produce whenever possible. Wash berries only just before eating them to reduce the risk of mould growth. Excess fruits and vegetables can also be frozen, pickled, or turned into jams and preserves.

5. Choose locally grown and seasonal foods

Seasonal fruits and vegetables place less strain on the environment while often being fresher, more nutritious, and better tasting.

By choosing local and seasonal produce, you help reduce demand for out-of-season products that require additional transportation, refrigeration, storage, and processing. At the same time, you support local farmers and food producers in your community and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

6. Choose natural chewing gum alternatives or mints

After cigarette butts, chewing gum is one of the most common forms of litter found in public spaces. Most conventional chewing gum is not biodegradable.

A major ingredient in many chewing gums is polyisobutylene, a synthetic rubber derived from petroleum products. Consider switching to natural chewing gum made from chicle, a natural latex harvested from the sapodilla tree, or simply choose mint sweets instead.

Both options can help freshen your breath while reducing the environmental impact associated with conventional chewing gum.

7. Choose imperfect fruits and vegetables

Help reduce food waste by buying fruits and vegetables that may look unusual or imperfect but taste just as good as perfectly shaped produce.

Around one-third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted, with fruits and vegetables accounting for a significant proportion of these losses. Retailers often discard produce with cosmetic imperfections because many consumers prefer products that look visually perfect.

8. Regrow food from kitchen scraps

Common food scraps such as banana peels and orange peels can take up to two years to decompose naturally.

Although food waste is often discarded because it is biodegradable, a more sustainable option is to compost it or regrow certain foods at home. Many leafy vegetables and herbs can be regrown in water on a sunny windowsill throughout the year.

9. Some foods remain safe to eat after their "best before" date

"Best before" dates refer to food quality rather than food safety. Many products remain perfectly safe to eat after this date, although their texture, flavour, or appearance may no longer be at their best.

Reducing food waste starts with understanding the difference between food safety and food quality, and learning how to store food properly can help prevent unnecessary waste.