Our food choices have an impact on the environment and affect our health. By opting for a more sustainable diet and reducing food waste, everyone can help to reduce their carbon footprint. Here are some simple steps you can take to reduce your diet’s impact on the climate.
The global food system is responsible for 34 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, 931 million tonnes of food – equivalent to 17 per cent of the food available to consumers – was wasted. Reducing this waste is essential to limit climate change and pollution.
In Switzerland, food accounts for 28 per cent of the environmental impact of consumption, ahead of housing (24 per cent) and transport (12 per cent). According to a study by ETH Zurich, the country generates around 2.8 million tonnes of food waste each year. This equates to nearly 330 kg of avoidable food waste per person per year – the equivalent of the weight of a grand piano thrown away as food by every Swiss person each year.
Crise du gaspillage alimentaire en Suisse : 2,8 millions de tonnes par an
A chicken skewer generates nearly 5.2 times less CO₂ than a rib of beef (calculated on the basis of CO₂ emissions per kilogramme of food).
Similarly, a mixed barbecue (salmon, beef and vegetables) generates around 2.2 times less CO₂ than a barbecue consisting entirely of meat:
(Source : Agribalyse)
Adopting a more sustainable diet doesn’t mean you have to change everything. With a few simple, practical steps, we can reduce our impact on the climate in our day-to-day lives.
Reducing your consumption of beef, lamb and other meats with a high carbon footprint, and replacing them as much as possible with plant-based proteins (lentils, chickpeas, tofu, beans), can significantly reduce your impact on the climate.
Buying food produced in Switzerland and in season reduces transport, supports local agriculture and limits emissions associated with imports and heated greenhouses
Plan your meals, store your food properly and make use of your leftovers. Reducing food waste prevents food from being produced and transported unnecessarily, which has a significant environmental impact.
