Category: Environmental impact

Globally, livestock production accounts for 40% of the gross value of agricultural production, and it is also the most resource-intensive segment of the food industry. In general, foods that come from animal sources require significantly more resources like land, water, and energy to produce than their plant-based counterparts. This disparity in resource use is a crucial factor in understanding the environmental footprint of our food system.

According to the CDC, *Clostridium perfringens* outbreaks, a common form of food poisoning, occur most frequently around the holidays, often linked to turkey meals. This statistic highlights just one of the notable disadvantages of turkey that many consumers overlook, alongside a range of environmental and ethical issues.

According to a study comparing five diets, the vegetarian option was the most energy-efficient, while red meat was the least. This raises a critical question: is a vegetarian or meat eating diet more energy efficient in the broader food system?

According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, bottled water has surpassed soda to become the number one packaged beverage in the United States, yet the primary reasons for this choice are often misunderstood. Unpacking the consumer motivations reveals a complex interplay of practicality, perception, and marketing.

Recent research reveals that bottled water can contain hundreds of thousands of plastic particles per liter, posing potential health risks. To determine what is healthier, filtered water or bottled water, a detailed look at their respective pros and cons is essential for making an informed choice.

According to a 2018 University of Oxford study, producing a single glass of dairy milk results in almost three times more greenhouse gas emissions than any plant-based milk. This stark finding brings into sharp focus the complex and vital question: is drinking milk sustainable?.

A 2024 study revealed that a single liter of bottled water can contain nearly a quarter-million invisible plastic fragments, far more than previously estimated. Understanding this and other hidden factors reveals the true disadvantage of mineral water, which goes far beyond just its taste.

According to the United Nations, the livestock industry is responsible for about 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Eating low on the food chain is a dietary practice that involves consuming more organisms from the lower trophic levels, such as plants and small fish, and reducing the consumption of meat from large animals to benefit both personal health and the environment.

While no food is packaged with methane gas, the food we produce and consume is a major source of global methane emissions, accounting for up to 33% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. This gas comes not from the food itself, but from its journey from farm to table and how our bodies process it.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), humanity is using resources at 1.7 times the rate that the Earth's ecosystems can regenerate, a clear indicator of systemic overconsumption. This unsustainable rate is most visible in the relentless cycle of fast fashion, where constant trends drive excessive purchasing and disposal of clothing.