2. Drink ‘inexperienced’ tea
If you’re having a brew, take into consideration what’s going within the pot. Britons use round 165 million teabags a day, however a 2019 report discovered many are heat-sealed utilizing a sort of plastic. Larger manufacturers are slowly making adjustments, however why not use unfastened tea leaves? They’re plastic-free and will be composted, too.
3. Decide higher espresso pods
Making espresso at residence does reduce prices, however espresso pods are an enormous environmental hazard. Globally, 29,000 find yourself in landfill each month, the place they’ll take 500 years to interrupt down. Go for compostable espresso pods as an alternative – you continue to get your caffeine repair, however with out compromising the planet.
4. Keep away from plastic meals packaging
We all know single-use plastics are dangerous for the setting – they’re extra prone to find yourself in our oceans than reusable choices – and it takes a whole lot of fossil fuels to provide them. Ideas to cut back your meals packaging waste embrace utilizing beeswax wraps somewhat than clingfilm, however it’s additionally good to know which varieties of plastic to keep away from.
5. Cease consuming meat…
Switching to a vegetarian or vegan weight-reduction plan can prevent 0.8 tonnes of CO2 a 12 months. It could not sound like a lot, however going plant-based is likely one of the best methods to shrink your meals carbon footprint.
A 2023 examine discovered a meat-eater’s weight-reduction plan produces round 10kg of greenhouse gasses every single day, in contrast with simply 2.5kg for a vegan weight-reduction plan; that’s an enormous 75% discount. Actually, avoiding meat and dairy is extensively agreed to be the single largest method to cut back your environmental influence on the planet.
6. … or no less than reduce down
If going completely vegan feels too difficult proper now, decreasing the quantity of meat you eat continues to be a superb transfer. Researchers from Oxford College say swapping simply one red-meat meal for a plant-based dinner each week may reduce the UK’s carbon footprint by 50 million tonnes.
7. Do not bin your dinner
This one sounds apparent, however we throw away 6.6 million tonnes of meals yearly – and virtually three-quarters of that’s meals we may’ve eaten. This meals waste is equal to 36 million tonnes of CO2, so consuming your leftovers can reduce carbon and your meals prices. Discover some recipe inspiration.
8. Love your lumpy fruit and veg
We additionally throw away over 50 million tonnes of ‘wonky’ fruit and greens yearly within the UK and Europe, with an environmental influence equal to the emissions of virtually 400,000 vehicles. Now you can purchase wonky veg bins in most main supermarkets, or order one to your entrance door. Eat ‘ugly’ to assist maintain a wonderful planet.
9. Take into account your cooking strategies
Figures present that cooking is chargeable for 13.8% of the electrical energy we use in our properties, so discovering a extra environment friendly solution to cook dinner = much less CO2 produced. The Power Saving Belief says a microwave could also be your greatest wager; not like a fuel or electrical oven, it solely heats up your meals and never the air area round it.
10. Put money into one of the best cookware
Aside from the way you cook dinner your meals, what are you cooking it in? Specialists advise shopping for the best-quality pots and pans you’ll be able to afford to cease them ending up in landfill in a single or two years. Do your analysis and take into consideration what you’re actually going to make use of them for – do you want a one-egg frying pan?
11. Eat natural
Whereas the controversy over whether or not natural produce is more healthy for you continues, various research do agree on one factor: natural fruit and veg comprise much less environmentally dangerous chemical substances than non-organic. The Soil Affiliation says wholesome soil can be capable of retailer extra carbon – if all UK farms went natural, no less than 1.3 million tonnes of carbon may very well be taken up yearly.
12. Rethink meals miles
We’re advised to not purchase fruit and veg with too many meals miles, however the subject isn’t that clear-cut. Mike Berners-Lee, writer of How Unhealthy Are Bananas?, says bananas are literally okay as a result of they’re imported by boat – their carbon footprint is simply 480g of CO2 per kilo, regardless of the space they journey. However, air-freighted produce, like out-of-season strawberries, have a a lot higher carbon footprint. So, attempt to learn the way your meals travelled from farm to fork.
13. Store native – particularly in season
To chop your meals carbon footprint even additional, you’d suppose shopping for regionally grown produce is the reply, however (once more) it’s not that straightforward. Berners-Lee says tomatoes are wonderful once they’re in season within the UK, however through the winter, it’s higher to purchase them from hotter nations somewhat than native varieties grown in heated greenhouses – this makes use of much more CO2, regardless of the decrease meals miles.
14. Really feel the freeze
In the event you do decide or buy a whole lot of seasonal fruit and veg, a freezer is your good friend. Freezing meals not solely reduces meals waste, however you’ll be able to batch cook dinner meals and freeze them, decreasing the quantity of fuel or electrical energy wanted to cook dinner them individually. Simply be sure your freezer is vitality environment friendly – 16.8% of the electrical energy we use at house is for freezing or cooling or meals.
15. Chest could also be greatest
A freezer ought to final about 10 years, or longer if you happen to take care of it. In the event you do want a brand new one – and also you’ve received the area – a chest freezer may very well be the reply. They’ll retailer an enormous quantity of meals and are extra vitality environment friendly than their upright equivalents – if you open the door of a standing freezer, chilly air flows out, however if you open the lid of a chest freezer, it stays inside.
Extra on sustainability
What’s a meals carbon footprint?
The info about meals miles
6 items of packaging to keep away from
10 methods to eat out sustainably
Methods to scale back meals waste
Is a vegan weight-reduction plan higher for the setting?
Methods to compost meals at residence
Sustainability hub web page
Paul Allen is a former BBC environmental editor and a director at Lark. Discover him on Twitter @larkingly.
