A comprehensive study released on July 18, 2011 by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) outlines guidelines to help you, the consumer, make wiser food choices. We have long known that certain foods create an abundance of CO2 emissions. What this study adds is understanding the roll of the entire life cycle of various foods, whereas previous research mostly focuses on food production. The EWG research tracks food production, processing, consumption and waste disposal to teach us how to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and pollutions that result from our dietary habits.
“By eating and wasting less meat, consumers can help limit the environmental damage caused by the huge amounts of fertilizer, fuel, water, and pesticides, not to mention the toxic manure and wastewater, that goes along with producing meat,” said Kari Hamerschlag, EWG senior analyst and author of the report. “Choosing healthier, pasture-raised meats can also help improve people’s health and reduce the environmental damage associated with meat consumption.”
Five Worst Foods For the Environment:
1. Lamb, especially loin
2. Beef – choose grass-fed and lean meats to reduce your impact on the environment
3. Cheese (this one shocked me! Total bummer!) - Less dense cheese (such as cottage) results in fewer greenhouse gases since it takes less milk to produce it... read more
We've written many times about using reusable bottles and cups instead of single-use, but what about the stuff in it? How do we make our drinking habits a little bit greener? From water to beer to juice, there are ways to be a little greener when keeping yourself hydrated.
Guilty pleasures -- as green you may strive to be, you probably have an un-green habit or craving. I'm a firm believer that small steps amount to a lot and I also feel that people can go green without going crazy. There are plenty of ways to make your guilty pleasures a little greener.
