5 Easy Ways To Make Your Food More Sustainable
By: Julie Penn
Tags: Climate Change, Climate Action, Vegan, Sustainability, Food

In the past few decades, the topic of climate change became “popular”. There are protests around the world, powerful activists such as Greta Thunberg, international agreements and efforts in order to make the world more sustainable. A quick Google search for veganism shows an increase of 580 percent over the last five years in the vegan population. As much as we like to blame the rich and the big corporations, each person can make small changes that will contribute to our end goal, helping the earth.

QUIT PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES

A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute and the number will jump another 20% by 2021, creating an environmental crisis some campaigners predict will be as serious as climate change.

WHY?- Most plastic bottles produced end up in landfills or in the ocean. Between 5 million and 13 million tonnes of plastic leaks into the world’s oceans each year to be ingested by sea birds, fish and other organisms, and by 2050 the ocean will contain more plastic by weight than fish.

WHAT TO DO INSTEAD?- Use reusable water bottles.

2. BRING REUSABLE BAGS TO THE GROCERY STORE

Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture.

WHY?- Plastic bags start out as fossil fuels and end up as deadly waste in landfills and the ocean. Up to 80 percent of ocean plastic pollution enters the ocean from land. 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastic bags annually.

WHAT TO DO?- Either save or buy a few reusable bags and bring them with you when you go shopping.

The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year.

3. DON’T USE TO-GO CUPS

WHY?- Half a million disposable coffee cups are littered every day. This is creating an unsightly and damaging impact on our environment and also encourages more littering.

WHAT TO DO INSTEAD?- Buy reusable coffee cups and bring them to the store! Preferably light and durable ones, and wash them by hand.

You would have to bring your own cup for your daily coffee somewhere between 20 and 100 times for it to have the same environmental impact as a paper one.

“Most single-use items get used for a few minutes and then get discarded. I think it’s possibly the most ridiculous misuse of resources that humans have ever come up with, defying economic logic on so many levels.” —David McLagan

4. EAT SEASONAL FOODS

WHY?- One of the most salient benefits to eating seasonally is that you are effectively reducing your carbon footprint. It reduces the number of miles your food has to travel before it reaches your plate. In addition, it is more cost-efficient because you are paying for those added miles.

WHAT TO DO?- Buy seasonal fruits and vegetables and buy from local farmers.

5. CELEBRATE “MEATLESS MONDAY”

Meatless Monday is an international movement to help reduce meat consumption to improve personal health and the health of the planet.

WHY?- Some of the environmental effects that have been associated with meat production are pollution through fossil fuel usage, animal methane, effluent waste, and water and land consumption. Meat is considered one of the prime factors contributing to the current sixth mass extinction.

WHAT TO DO INSTEAD?- Here are some meatless recipes you can try!