Over the past 50 years, European diets have shifted away from traditional foods based on whole grains and plants, towards the so-called Western diet that is high in meat, fat, salt and sugar. This shift has resulted in an unprecedented obesity epidemic. It has also been bad for the environment, which is why WWF-UK actively works on food consumption issues. Some of the environmental problems that result from our diets include:
• Greenhouse gas emissions emitted during the production and distribution of food;
• Deforestation for crop and livestock growth, which affects wildlife and habitats in sensitive areas, such as the Amazon and Cerrado regions of Brazil;
• Over-extraction of water used for growing crops, which affects sensitive environments.
Our dietary choices affect the climate in particular: in Europe, food accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions.
While around 33% of the food that is grown around the world is wasted, 870 million people globally are undernourished and about two billion suffer from what has been termed ‘hidden hunger’ – this is when people do not get enough of the nutrients critical for sound health and development from their diets, even when the supply of food is plentiful. At the same time, more than 1.9 billion adults were overweight in 2014. Over 600 million of these were obese. WWF-UK’s work on sustainable diets is driven by FAO’s definition of them, i.e. ‘those diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and to healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; while optimising natural and human resources’. WWF-UK works to encourage the adoption of low carbon diets and sustainable food security and to demonstrate the impact food consumption in the UK has on those places around the world that are of critical importance for biodiversity.
What do sustainable diets in Europe look like?
From 2011 to 2014, WWF-UK ran a project called ‘LiveWell for Low Impact Food in Europe’ (LiveWell for LIFE). Funded under the European Commission Life+ scheme, the project set out to show how sustainable diets can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the EU food supply chain by at least 25%, as well as being healthy, nutritious and affordable. Building on the concept of the UK nutritional tool ‘Eatwell Plate’, a ‘LiveWell Plate’ was developed. It demonstrated that following some surprisingly simple tweaks to daily eating choices would improve national health, reduce the impact of our eating habits on the natural world and help the UK meet its targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. After assessing data collected on food consumption patterns, dietary recommendations and dietrelated health problems in France, Spain and Sweden, three further ‘LiveWell Plates’ were developed as a tool to help determine countryspecific sustainable diets in these countries. These LiveWell plates demonstrated that low-carbon diets can be achieved while being affordable and in line with national nutritional recommendations and national culinary preferences.
LiveWell for LIFE’s work was based on collaboration with a Network of European Food Stakeholders made up from policy-makers, representatives of the retail industry, farmers, food manufacturers, the health sector, academics and civil society, who gave input at each stage of the project. Our Network reviewed the Plates and its contribution was instrumental in achieving a valuable outcome. If the LiveWell Plates were adopted, they would cut greenhouse gas emissions from the pilot countries’ food supply chains by 25% by 2020. Because the pilot countries are large food producers, this will contribute to the EU’s overall target of a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, as other countries may choose to follow suit.
Identifying the barriers to and opportunities for sustainable diets
LiveWell for LIFE identified a list of 24 key opportunities for and barriers to the adoption of healthy, sustainable diets in the EU which consumers, policy makers and businesses might come across [1]. This research was carried out through a literature review between December 2012 and January 2013, covering publications by governments and international bodies, business organisations and civil society groups. Members of the LiveWell Network of European Food Stakeholders added to this research through interviews, questionnaires and discussions during the second LiveWell for LIFE workshop, held in March 2013 in Brussels. Habits, limited knowledge and the perception by consumers that sustainable healthy diets cost more than conventional diets were identified as key barriers to the adoption of sustainable diets. On the other hand, opportunities included the potential to save money on food, meeting societal expectations and investing in one’s health.
Assessing desirable policies for the adoption of healthy, sustainable diets
With a view to putting healthy, sustainable diets on the policy agenda and in light of the barriers and opportunities that were identified, the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and EU affairs consultancy bxl-law carried out a study of EU public policy options that would support a shift towards more sustainable diets in Europe. The aim was to show the range of policy options that are both available and feasible to encourage that shift. The study had a specific focus on short-term policy options, but it also highlighted those that are relevant in the medium to longer term. IEEP identified a list of policies that could be applied at EU level as well as a list of specific actions needed to make them successful.
Members of the Network of European Food Stakeholders also took part in meetings to identify a number of policies (at national and EU level) and determine their economic viability. LiveWell for LIFE appointed Civic Consulting to carry out this task. The socio-economic impact of an additional 30% or 70% of European citizens adopting sustainable diets by 2020 was also assessed to find out what effect these differing adoption levels could have on the food chain, climate and obesity-related health problems.
Key policy recommendations from LiveWell for LIFE
The Network of European Food Stakeholders’ input, combined with research carried out by LiveWell for LIFE, helped identify policies and private initiatives which could make sustainable diets happen in the EU. A number of policy recommendations to help encourage healthy and sustainable diets have been identified [2]. Policy-makers are particularly encouraged to implement the following ‘no-regret policies’ as we believe these three policy options will have high impact, be politically acceptable and cost-effective. Rolling them out should be a priority:
• Revise national dietary guidelines to reflect sustainability and greenhouse gas mitigation objectives: LiveWell for LIFE has shown that there are large overlaps between healthy and sustainable diets. But there can also be clear trade-offs and eating healthy food does not always benefit the climate. National governments should develop policies to give more balanced, integrated dietary recommendations on healthy and sustainable diets.
• Strengthen Green Public Procurement: WWF wants to make Green Public Procurement in food and catering mandatory. The European public sector is a powerful force in the food chain, creating new markets and fostering an economy of quality. A thorough revision of the EU’s Green Public Procurement guidelines should be a priority, with the ultimate aim to set more binding minimum environmental standards for public food procurement.
• Support food education: WWF wants to find ways to reconnect people with the origins of their food so they can make wiser choices. Governments must make sure activities, such as food growing, farm visits and cooking classes, are available in all schools and not dependent on local initiatives or tuition fees. School food policies at national and EU levels should give children healthy and sustainable lunches. We need more education to encourage healthy eating habits, food diversity and environmental sustainability.
Practical steps towards the adoption of healthy, sustainable diets
WWF’s research has shown that what is healthy for people is generally healthy for the planet too. While it is easy to get confused about labels and claims, our LiveWell approach revolves around a set of six principles (see posters) to enable consumers to adopt healthy sustainable diets. Our principles are easy to understand and easy to follow. There is no need to understand labelling and there is no price premium. Their adoption (and encouragement of their adoption) will maximise health benefits and minimise negative impacts on the environment.
References:
1. The finding of our research can be found in our report Adopting healthy, sustainable diets: key opportunities and barriers available at http://livewellforlife.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Adopting-healthy-sustainable-diets-report.pdf
2. The full set of policy recommendations identified through LiveWell for LIFE can be found in our report LiveWell for LIFE Final recommendations; On our plate today: healthy, sustainable food choices available at http://livewellforlife.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/LiveWell-for-LIFE_Rec-Report_English_Final.pdf
Brigitte Alarcon, Sustainable Diets Business and Policy Officer, WWF-UK, The Living Planet Centre, Rufford House, Brewery Rd, Woking, Surrey GU21 4LL
Phone: +44 (0)1483 426444
Email: balarcon@wwf.org.uk
Web: http://www.wwf.org.uk/
Twitter: @wwf_uk
WWF is at the heart of global efforts to address the world’s most important environmental challenges. Working with communities, businesses and governments, WWF helps people and nature thrive. It aims to safeguard the natural world by tackling climate change and enabling people to use only their fair share of natural resources.
