The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

How sustainable is your weekly grocery shop? These small changes can have big benefits

  • Written by Michalis Hadjikakou, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sustainability, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Built Environment, Deakin University
How sustainable is your weekly grocery shop? These small changes can have big benefits

You might think eating more sustainably requires drastic changes, such as shifting to a vegan diet[1]. While a plant-based diet is undeniably[2] good for the Earth, our new research[3] shows modest changes to your eating habits can also have significant environmental benefits.

We assessed how food products on Australian supermarket shelves stack up against key environmental indicators, such as carbon emissions and water use.

We found swapping the most environmentally harmful foods for more sustainable options within the same food group, such as switching from beef burgers to chicken burgers, can significantly reduce carbon emissions – by up to 96% in some instances.

The last thing we want to do is take the pleasure away from eating. Instead, we want to help consumers make realistic dietary changes that also help ensure a sustainable future. So read on to find out which simple food swaps can best achieve this.

chicken burger
A simple swap, like a chicken burger instead of a beef burger, can be good for the planet. Shutterstock[4]

Informing sustainable diets

The environmental impact of foods can be estimated using an approach known as a life-cycle assessment[5].

This involves identifying the “inputs” required along the food supply chain, such as fertiliser, energy, water and land, and tracking them from farm to fork. From this we can calculate a product’s “footprint” – or environmental impact per kilogram of product – and compare it to other foods.

Most studies of environmental footprints focus on the raw ingredients that make up food products (such as beef, wheat or rice) rather than the packaged products people see on shelves (such as beef sausages, pasta or rice crackers). Of the studies that do focus on packaged foods, most only consider a fraction of the products available to consumers.

What’s more, a lot of research considers only the carbon emissions of food products, excluding other important measures such as water use. And some studies use global average environmental footprints, which vary significantly[6] between countries.

Our research set out to overcome these limitations. We aligned environmental footprints with the products people find on supermarket shelves, and covered a huge range of food and beverage products available in Australia. We also included many environmental indicators, to allow a more complete picture[7] of the sustainability of different foods.

woman looking at supermarket shelves
The study covered a huge range of packaged food available in Australia. Shutterstock[8]

What we did

Key to our research was the FoodSwitch database[9], which compiles food labelling and ingredient data from images of packaged food and beverages. It covers more than 90% of the Australian packaged food market.

We combined the database with a mathematical method[10] that sums the environmental impact of ingredients, to quantify the footprint of the product as a whole.

From this, we estimated the environmental footprint of 63,926 food products available in Australian supermarkets. We then simulated the potential benefits of making “realistic” switches between products – that is, switches within the same food category.

Read more: We gave 60,000 food products a 'planetary health' star rating – see how your favourites stack up[11]

Our findings

The results show how making a small dietary change can have big environmental consequences.

For a shopping basket composed of items from eight food groups, we simulate the benefits of swapping from high-impact towards medium- or low-impact food products.

Our analysis assumes a starting point from the most environmentally harmful products in each food group – for example, sweet biscuits, cheese and beef burger patties.

A shift to the medium-impact foods for all eight items – such as a muffin, yoghurt and sliced meat – can lead to at least a 62% reduction in environmental impact. Shifts towards the most sustainable choice for all items – bread, soy milk or raw poultry – can achieve a minimum 77% reduction.

This analysis ends at the supermarket shelves and does not include additional food processing by the consumer. For example, raw meat will usually be cooked before human consumption, which will expand its environmental footprint to varying degrees, depending on the method used[12].

See the below info-graphic for more detail. The full results are available in our study[13].

What next?

Many people are looking for ways to live more sustainably. Insufficient or complex information can fuel confusion and anxiety in consumers, leading to inaction or paralysis[14]. Consumers need more information and support to choose more sustainable foods.

Supermarkets and retailers also have an important role to play – for example, by giving sustainable products prominent shelf placement[15]. Attractive pricing is also crucial – particularly in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis[16] when it can be difficult to prioritise sustainability over cost.

Government interventions, such as information campaigns and taxing high-impact products[17], can also help.

Food labelling is also important. The European Union is leading the way[18] with measures such as the eco-score[19], which integrates 14 environmental indicators into a single score from A to E.

Apps such as ecoSwitch[20] can also empower consumers[21].

The diets of people in developed nations such as Australia exert a high toll on our planet[22]. More sustainable food choices are vital to achieving a sustainable future for humanity[23]. We hope our research helps kick-start positive change.

References

  1. ^ vegan diet (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ undeniably (www.nature.com)
  3. ^ new research (www.sciencedirect.com)
  4. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  5. ^ life-cycle assessment (www.cell.com)
  6. ^ vary significantly (www.science.org)
  7. ^ more complete picture (www.pnas.org)
  8. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  9. ^ FoodSwitch database (www.georgeinstitute.org.au)
  10. ^ mathematical method (www.sciencedirect.com)
  11. ^ We gave 60,000 food products a 'planetary health' star rating – see how your favourites stack up (theconversation.com)
  12. ^ depending on the method used (www.nature.com)
  13. ^ our study (www.sciencedirect.com)
  14. ^ leading to inaction or paralysis (theconversation.com)
  15. ^ prominent shelf placement (journals.sagepub.com)
  16. ^ cost-of-living crisis (theconversation.com)
  17. ^ taxing high-impact products (journals.sagepub.com)
  18. ^ is leading the way (environment.ec.europa.eu)
  19. ^ eco-score (docs.score-environnemental.com)
  20. ^ ecoSwitch (www.georgeinstitute.org)
  21. ^ empower consumers (www.sciencedirect.com)
  22. ^ exert a high toll on our planet (theconversation.com)
  23. ^ sustainable future for humanity (www.thelancet.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/how-sustainable-is-your-weekly-grocery-shop-these-small-changes-can-have-big-benefits-234367

Times Magazine

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

CNC Machining Meets Stage Design - Black Swan State Theatre Company & Tommotek

When artistry meets precision engineering, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Tommotek worked alongside the Black Swan State Theatre Company on several of their innovative stage productions. With tight deadlines and intrica...

The Times Features

Running Across Australia: What Really Holds the Body Together?

How William Goodge’s 3,800km run reveals the connection between movement, mindset, and mental resilience As a business owner, I’ve come to realise that the biggest wins rarely com...

Telehealth is Transforming Healthcare Services in Australia

It has traditionally not been easy to access timely healthcare in Australia, particularly for people who live in remote areas. Many of them spend hours on the road just to see a...

Launchd Acquires Huume, Strengthening Creative Firepower Across Talent-Led Marketing

Launchd, a leader in talent, technology and brand partnerships, has announced its acquisition of influencer talent management agency Huume from IZEA. The move comes as the medi...

Vietnam's "Gold Coast" Emerges as Extraordinary Investment Frontier and Australian Inspired Way of Life

$2 Billion super-city in Vung Tau set to replicate Australia's Gold Coast success story A culturally metamorphic development aptly named "Gold Coast" is set to reshape Vietna...

Choosing the Wrong Agent Is the #1 Regret Among Aussie Property Sellers

Selling your home is often one of the largest financial transactions you’ll make, and for many Australians, it’s also one of the most emotional. A new survey of Australian home se...

Travel Insurance for Families: What Does it Cover and Why it’s Essential

Planning a family trip is exciting, but unexpected mishaps can turn your dream vacation into a stressful ordeal. That’s where travel insurance comes in—it’s your safety net when ...