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Are you conscious of the impact of your diet and lifestyle on the wider environment? If you’re becoming increasingly eco-savvy but you don’t know how best to minimise your carbon footprint and even lead a carbon-neutral existence, then here are some tips for you.
The issue of global warming has not just crept up on us overnight. Back in 2016, we reported on South African organisation Greenpop’s Got Wood? marketing campaign, designed to raise awareness of global deforestation and the importance of looking after our wider environment. That message is louder still today and our diet is another easy way to limit our individual impact on the world around us.
According to The Soil Association, if all UK farmers were organic, approximately 1.3 million tonnes of carbon would be absorbed by the soil annually instead of entering our atmosphere. But it’s not just our environment that a more organic lifestyle would support. A recent study by Betway online casino on the developing trends in the food tech industry revealed that dietary habits are also important to decelerate a global obesity trend, as well as global warming.
The number of obese people has almost tripled since 1975. In terms of everyday lifestyle changes, we also need to look at the energy wasted in the home. A report by the Energy Saving Trust found that overfilled kettles are wasting £68 million in energy alone.
There are so many small alterations you can make to your lifestyle and diet to help save the planet – and we don’t just mean what you eat either. Scandinavian brand Estrid is developing fully inclusive vegan self-care products that do away with gendered stereotypes around grooming.
However, we’re focusing on five simple dietary suggestions that could slash your carbon footprint overnight.
Consider replacing dairy and eggs
We thought we’d go for the jugular with one of the most extreme dietary tweaks first. In the decades to come, it is said that dairy will be phased out. Plant-based alternatives requiring hemp, nuts, oats, or soy are expected to dominate the market. Businesses like Evo Foods are also leading the charge to develop plant-based alternatives to eggs to reduce the need for intensive battery farming.
Only boil as much water as you need in your kettle
We’ve already seen the £68 million wasted in kettle boiling from the Energy Saving Trust and there’s an easy solution – only boil the amount of water you need. If you’re making a cup of tea, there’s no need to fill the kettle to the brim. In addition, you should look to purchase an ‘eco kettle’ that uses a fifth less energy than most conventional electric kettles.
Embrace plant-based proteins
Eating more plant-based proteins and removing some red meat from your diet is a sure-fire way to improve your health and your carbon footprint. Look to seeds, nuts, beans, pulses, and tofu as a replacement for animal protein. A Science.org research article found that cutting red meat out of your diet could have the biggest impact on limiting your carbon footprint.
Love your local, sustainably produced products
Do your best to reduce your food miles. Cherish your local, organic food producers. By buying locally, you’re not only slashing your carbon footprint by reducing the travel distance of the goods, but you are also contributing to the local economy too. There are plenty of hotels and establishments across Europe that are embracing the organic trend too. The Casa Albets hotel and restaurant offers traditional Spanish accommodation with exposed stone walls and furniture made from eco-friendly materials. It also serves fresh organic food, most of which is grown on their 30-hectare farm.
Grow your own produce
Don’t just look to eat other people’s organic produce – grow your own too. Not only does back garden growing curb your weekly shopping budget it can also improve your emotional wellbeing and sense of worth. Cultivating your back garden vegetables is also guaranteed to reduce your carbon footprint too.
By making basic tweaks to your diet and lifestyle, you too can drive down your carbon footprint, save money and improve your mental and physical wellbeing.