Choose low-carbon foods

Effort:

Impact:

Cost:

Savings:

Some foods require more carbon to produce than others. Typically, animal-based foods have a much higher footprint than their plant-based alternatives.

But it’s not just about meat. Did you know that out of season fruit and veg can also have a big carbon footprint? This is because this produce tends to be grown in heated greenhouses or transported long distances, which results in a much bigger carbon impact.

If you want to lower your food footprint, try these three tips:

Eat seasonally and opt for local when possible.
Support farms or food producers that prioritise sustainable agricultural practices.
Reduce food waste: plan your meals, store food properly and compost scraps.

In most cases, food grown closer to home has a lower carbon footprint than food grown abroad and shipped here. There are a few exceptions. For example heating greenhouses in the UK can be more energy intensive than the emissions from transporting from overseas.

By making informed choices, supporting local initiatives, and embracing sustainable eating practices, we can collectively reduce our food-related carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier, more resilient planet for future generations!

Next steps

Engage with community initiatives and participate in local food projects that promote sustainability (such as CAG Oxfordshire, Replenish, OX4FoodCrew and Oxford Community Action).
Educate yourself about eating more sustainably through resources such as Zero Waste Kitchen and Good Food Oxfordshire’s cooking hub.
Discover your diet’s carbon footprint: Use the BBC Climate Change Food Calculator to see how your food choices impact emissions and try Cherwell Collective’s Carbon Cost of Food Week and Tool to Buying Locally Grown/Seasonal Food.
Find low-carbon, seasonal food: Check out seasonal food guides and local veg box schemes through Good Food Oxfordshire and read their Sustainable Diets Toolkit.
Reduce waste and support surplus food projects: Visit a community fridge, donate or volunteer at your local foodbank (such as Oxford Food Hub), or eat at cafés like Waste2Taste (which make meals from surplus food).
Get involved in local campaigns: Good Food Oxfordshire run annual campaigns such as Switch Up Your Lunch and the Oxfordshire Pumpkin Festival where they share ways to eat more sustainably. Find out more here. There’s also Great Big Green Week (the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature).