What does our food have to do with the climate?
What does my food have to do with the climate?
Food is produced, stored, processed, packaged, transported and prepared. Each of these steps produces greenhouse gases. These contribute to global warming and therefore to the current climate change. We should therefore try to choose foods that do not release so many greenhouse gases.
Why does a ship float? What is food waste?
Which foods are bad for the climate?
For example, tropical fruits such as pineapples or mangoes are usually transported to us in Europe by plane or ship. A lot of greenhouse gases are released into the air during transport. Dairy products and meat, especially beef, are also not good for the climate. One of the reasons for this is that cattle fart and burp a lot. In doing so, they emit a lot of climate-damaging gas. The animals also need a lot of feed, and a lot of greenhouse gas is also produced during cultivation and transport.
If food is produced but not consumed, this leads to avoidable CO2 emissions. According to a study by ETH Zurich, a total of 2.8 million tonnes of food are lost or thrown away in Switzerland every year, from cultivation to the dish on the plate. This corresponds to a third of all food produced (and is, incidentally, as harmful to the environment and climate as half of our motorised private transport).
This means that an average of 330 kilograms of food per person ends up in the bin every year! As private consumers, we are responsible for almost 40 per cent of this environmentally harmful food waste. (Source: Federal Office for the Environment)
How can my family eat in a more climate-friendly way?
Firstly, don't buy too much and throw away as little food as possible. Every piece of food that ends up in the bin instead of in our stomachs has burdened the climate for nothing.
Secondly, buy regional and seasonal whenever possible. In other words, food that is locally sourced and has not travelled long distances. And fruit and vegetables that are ripe and fresh from the field rather than from cold stores or heated greenhouses (see the seasonal calendar: www.bio-suisse.ch/saisonkalender).
Thirdly, eat less meat and dairy products. This is most beneficial for the climate. There are alternatives: for example, oat milk instead of cow's milk or margarine instead of butter. There are also plant-based substitutes for meat and sausage, for example from peas or wheat.
