When we consider how to improve our carbon footprint and how sustainably we live our lives, we often think of the obvious – walk instead of drive where possible, recycle at home and at work, and put on a jumper instead of turning up the heating when cold.  

But one important thing that often gets overlooked is food sustainability. After all, we all need to eat, and food is another avenue where we could make more sustainable choices.  

Food is a passion of ours here at Liquid. We have lots of foodie clients and our very own development kitchen with two chefs, so sustainable food practices are not only very important to us, but second nature.  

What is food sustainability?

The United Nations (UN) defines sustainability as “the idea that something (e.g. agriculture, fishing, or even preparation of food) is done in a way that is not wasteful of our natural resources and can be continued into the future without being detrimental to our environment or health.” 

It adds that food sustainability relates to “cuisine that takes into account where the ingredients are from, how the food is grown, and how it gets to our markets and eventually to our plates.” 

So, food sustainability isn’t just about the food itself – there are lots of other things that come into it such as how food is produced, distributed, packaged, and consumed. Sustainable farming practices, animal welfare, public health, and employee practices are also things to consider. 

We know that it can all seem overwhelming when trying to decide how to improve your food sustainability, so we’ve rounded up our top tips to help you take the first steps.  

Shop local  

An easy way to start on your food sustainability journey is to shop local. Buying and consuming food products that have been grown locally will help you to reduce the food miles of your meals and, ultimately, help to reduce carbon emissions.  

According to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), moving food is responsible for 25% of all miles covered by heavy goods traffic in the UK. Transporting food within, to, and around the UK produces 19 million tonnes of CO2 annually – equivalent to around 5.5 million typical cars.   

By shopping local, not only will you be reducing food miles, but you’ll also be supporting the economic success of local farmers and businesses. However, with the current cost of living crisis, the cost of sustainable food and shopping locally is one of the main barriers to people improving their food sustainability. To help balance the cost of living and food sustainability, you could start small on your journey by opting to just buy your fresh fruit and vegetables or meat from a local supplier, whilst continuing to shop at the supermarket for dried or tinned goods. Every little helps and whatever small steps you can make will still make a difference! 

Reduce food waste

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 30% of food produced is wasted and if food waste was a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the USA.  

There are many simple ways to reduce food waste: don’t cook more than you need, freeze any leftovers, check use-by dates when shopping, buy loose products so you only buy what you need, and buy ‘wonky’ fruit and veg that would otherwise be discarded.  

Eat less meat  

The WWF states that farming animals requires space and huge amounts of water and feed, and the livestock industry alone generates nearly 15% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions.  

Although many farmers are now adopting sustainable farming practices to reduce the impact the industry has on the planet, it’s still a good idea to have one meat-free day per week. 

There are so many plant-based meat alternatives – you could try cauliflower wings instead of chicken wings, halloumi and chips instead of fish and chips, or pulled jackfruit instead of pulled pork. The possibilities are endless and still delicious!  

Choose fairtrade and organic 

The Fairtrade Foundation is a global movement made up of companies, organisations, consumers, and producers which works to improve social and environmental standards for farmers and workers in developing countries. By choosing foods with the universal Fairtrade Mark whilst shopping, you will be helping to make the world a greener place and to protect our farmers and workers.  

Similarly, choosing organic food products will also help to improve your food sustainability. Organic products are grown without using harmful fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators, and additives. Organic farming is aiming for an industry that not only produces food that is better for the planet, but also for our bodies.  

So, which of these will you be trying to improve your food sustainability? We would love for you to share your own tips with us via social media!