An Australian study suggests that switching to environmentally friendly versions of everyday food and drink items could cut household grocery emissions by over a quarter (26%)
This research, conducted by The George Institute for Global Health and Imperial College London, highlights how minor changes in our shopping habits can make a significant impact on the environment.
Changing our shopping habits
Lead author Dr. Allison Gaines, an epidemiologist, emphasises the importance of dietary changes to meet global emissions targets, especially in high-income countries like Australia, the UK, and the US. “While consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of the food system and willing to make more sustainable food choices, they lack reliable information to identify the more environmentally friendly options,” she said.
The study analysed data from 7,000 Australian households, examining the greenhouse gas emissions of their annual grocery purchases using extended databases.
More than 22,000 products were categorised to quantify potential emissions savings from simple swaps. For example, opting for similar but more sustainable products within the same food category could reduce emissions by 26%, equivalent to taking 1.9 million cars off the road. Bigger changes, like choosing a vegetarian lasagne over a frozen meat one, could drive reductions up to 71%.
Meat products, which account for nearly half (49%) of all grocery-related emissions, are a key area for improvement, even though they make up only 11% of total purchases. On the other hand, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes represent 25% of all purchases but contribute just 5% of emissions.
How our diets affect the environment
Prof Bruce Neal, Executive Director at The George Institute Australia and Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Imperial College London, stressed the urgent need for standardised frameworks to regulate the environmental impact of the food supply.
He highlighted the development of ecoSwitch, a free app in Australia, as a step towards providing consumers with environmental transparency. Shoppers can use the app to scan product barcodes and check their ‘Planetary Health Rating,’ a score showing emissions levels from half a star (high emissions) to five stars (low emissions).
The George Institute plans to expand ecoSwitch to include other environmental indicators like land and water use and to introduce it to other countries. “While ecoSwitch is a much-needed first step in providing environmental transparency for grocery shoppers, the vision is for mandatory display of a single, standardised sustainability rating system on all supermarket products” Prof Neal concluded.
This study, the most detailed of its type on the environmental impacts of food purchasing behaviour, highlights the potential for consumers to significantly reduce their carbon footprint through informed choices.
