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Eating a plant-based diet is a great way to live more sustainability. Find out here how going vegan can benefit the planet.
Eating a plant-based diet is a great way to live more sustainability. In fact, basing your meals around plants for just one day can reduce your individual water intake by 1,500 litres; the equivalent of two weeks’ worth of showers [1]. Not only that, plant-based eating can reduce your carbon footprint by 2kg a day [2] – the energy required to drive 7.5 miles in a car.
With two planets’ worth of natural resources needed to support the global population by 2030[3], it’s now more important than ever to look at our own impact on the world we live in and how we can make a difference. The food we eat has a huge role to play – from the fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, beans and pulses we put on our plates throughout the year, to where it comes from in the world – and eating sustainably is the way forward. Alpro has created a handy guide on how to reduce your impact and eat your way to a greener lifestyle and more sustainable future.
Put plants first
Food production can be a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Many products also require more water and space than the cultivation of plants, so why not try putting plants at the centre of your meals for a day? This can save up to 1,500 litres of water; the equivalent of two weeks’ worth of showers[4]. Stuck for plant-based meal ideas? You can find plenty of delicious recipes by heading to the Alpro website.
Think energy efficiency, think plant-based
We all know the importance of watching our energy consumption, and small actions can make a big difference. One simple way to reduce your individual carbon footprint is to eat more plant-based foods. Crops such as soya beans require much less energy to produce than other foods and are a high-quality plant-based protein source. For breakfast, try adding soya drink (such as Alpro Soya Original) into your morning porridge, or grabbing a soya latte in your reusable coffee cup on the way to work – delicious!
Shop smart and make the most of your leftovers
As a nation, we throw away seven million tonnes of food and drink from our homes every year[5]. To avoid this unnecessary waste, make sure to shop smart and plan ahead. Try creating a shopping list for the upcoming days to ensure you buy only what you need. If you do find yourself with leftover fruit and veg, why not freeze and blitz together with a plant-based drink during the week for a delicious smoothie?
Stay local
It’s important to always shop as locally as you can. By doing so, you not only reduce the carbon footprint of your food choices, but you’re also supporting the smaller producers in your community. Your local farmers market is the perfect place to get fresh seasonal produce. When it’s not possible to get products from your region, try to make sure ingredients have been sustainably sourced. Alpro supports this practice, with 60% of the soya in Alpro products grown in Europe close to production facilities (rather than Brazil, where deforestation is still a huge issue), and all of its almonds sourced from the Mediterranean (versus drought-hit California, which is also much further afield).
Make seasonal produce your best friend
Buying seasonal food from local sources means that your food has spent less time travelling and in storage, which can significantly cut back on environmental impacts. By shopping seasonally, you’ll enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed foods, not to mention local, seasonal produce just tastes better!
[1] 15 showers
[2] 2kg of CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalent. The standard unit for measuring carbon footprints
[3] https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/05/16/wwf-warns-that-we-will-need-two-earths-by-2030_n_1520449.html
[4] 15 showers
[5] Food Standards Agency, https://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/campaigns/food-waste
