Food footprints make up around one-third of the average total carbon footprint, offering opportunities to cut carbon. Switching to a plant-based diet will see big carbon savings, but this is not right for everyone so here’s a menu of food steps that, if all completed, can take a big bite out of your food footprint.
What you eat 
Red meat has a much higher carbon footprint than chicken, pork, and fish which, in turn, have higher carbon footprints than fruit, vegetables, and grains. Cutting back on red meat or eating animal products once a day, gives good carbon savings. For your fruit and vegetables eat with the seasons, which helps even more as seasonal produce is more likely to be grown using nature’s support and is likely to come from closer to home. As you cut back on meat, try some of the new plant-based products and test an eco-meal to save money. If buying meat and fish go sustainable, for example by looking for responsibly sourced fish. How you cook It’s not just what you eat that matters. You can save energy in the kitchen by putting a lid on saucepans, using the microwave more, and always using the dishwasher eco settings.
What you throw away
The average person throws out their body weight in food every year. Cut right back on food waste to save carbon and for the left overs (like peelings and other bits you cannot eat). If possible, make sure you compost or use local food recycling as this avoids food going to landfills where it releases methane.
