Catherine Rusoff
Swapping meat lasagna for vegetarian is not just healthier for you — is also healthier for the planet. And a new study shows how much each swap, like swapping beef for stewed chicken, saves greenhouse gas emissions.
Switching food and drink purchases to very similar purchases, but more ecological alternatives could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from household food by almost a quarter, according to a new study from the George Institute for Global Health and Imperial College London.
The study released Tuesday aims to show that consumers do not need to make drastic changes — such as give up meat — to make smarter, climate-conscious choices that add up to make an impact on carbon reduction, lead author Allison Gaines told CBS News.
“But while consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of the food system and willing to make more sustainable food choices, they lack reliable information to identify the most environmentally friendly options,” said Gaines, who has a Ph.D. public health.
The study recommends that packaged foods be labeled with carbon emissions so that climate-conscious consumers can make informed choices. Around a third of carbon emissions are currently attributed to the food and agricultural sector.
Researchers calculated projected emissions from the annual food purchases of 7,000 Australian households using information from FoodSwitch, an app from The George Institute where users can scan a food’s barcode and see other similar, healthier options.
Already available, but only in Australia, the EcoSwitch aims to add another component for customers to consider – the carbon footprint of the product. The data collected in the study is stored in the application where the customer can scan a product and see similar ones with lower carbon emissions.
Gaines said previous studies have looked at eating patterns, while his research aims to “look at food the same way consumers see it in the supermarket”. The study offered two types of swaps – those that can be found on the same shelf compared to swaps that can be found in a different aisle. These similar swaps could lead to a 26% emissions reduction in Australia, which is equivalent to taking 1.9 million cars off the road, according to the study.
For example, a chocolate chip brioche roll might have a “very similar option” to a bagel or a “less similar option” to a sourdough loaf.
With drinks, a sugar-free vanilla cola can be swapped for a “very similar” raspberry soda or a “less similar” lemon ginger kombucha.
Options that are better for the environment often correspond to those that are better for health, Gaines said.
The main contributors to carbon emissions from food products were meat and meat productswith 49%, followed by dairy and non-alcoholic drinks.
“The trend in emissions around the world appears to be getting worse and worse,” Gaines said. “Empowering people with this bottom-up information often has a top-down impact as well.”
mae png
giga loterias
uol pro mail
pro brazilian
camisas growth
700 euro em reais
