Here at Nutritics, our Foodprint software is designed to help hospitality and foodservice businesses measure the environmental impact of foods, recipes and menus. By helping operators to gain visibility over their carbon footprint and water usage, we’re providing a scientific basis for strategic climate action. But what does a carbon-friendly menu look like? We speak to Elbha Purcell, Director of Knowledge Labs at Nutritics and registered dietitian to learn more…
What we eat can play a major part in our collective ambitions to reduce our carbon emissions, with food and drink industries reported to contribute approximately 30% of climate change (Reducing Impacts of Food Loss and Waste, 2019). So, for restaurants, caterers, cafés and more, it’s never been more important to explore climate-friendly diets.
What is a climate-friendly diet?
It is a diet that focuses on reducing excess waste, emissions and calories. A climate-friendly diet is a flexible diet that emphasises a plant-forward approach with a reduction in animal protein consumption.
In other words, this diet encourages the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and pulses along with meat and dairy products but in smaller portions.
So, whilst sustainable food systems will vary from region to region, making our diets more plant-rich can play a pivotal role in reducing our carbon footprints.
Just fruit and vegetables on the menu then?
A move towards plant-rich diets revolving around vegetables, legumes, fruits, grains, pulses, nuts and seeds can certainly lessen the environmental impact of food production. However, as already discussed, it doesn’t mean the elimination of animal proteins. My advice would be to choose those that have high standard welfare credentials. This approach supports a balanced diet — also known as a flexitarian diet — which is considered the third most climate-friendly diet by the UN.
A 2016 study called Healthy Global Diets suggested that a 25% increase in fruits and vegetables consumed, and a 56% reduction in red meat could bring down food-related greenhouse gas emissions by anything from 29% to as much as 70%.
Is this something that consumers want?
We know that sustainability is a priority for UK consumers, with 17m Brits more likely to choose environmentally-friendly bars and restaurants, according to a recent Nutritics survey. Over a quarter (27%) of consumers would also like to know the carbon footprint of a meal when eating out. Therefore, communicating the impact of your ingredients on the menu can make it easier for diners to choose a less impactful dish, which is where carbon tracking software like Foodprint can support businesses.
So, what can food businesses do?
Encourage innovation within your catering teams, focus on improving the flavour and texture of plant-rich dishes and increase the variety and number of meat- and dairy-free dishes.
Review your popular meat-based dishes, check the sustainability credentials of your animal proteins and question if these can be improved. Engage with your suppliers and/or local farmers to discover what options are available. On top of this, training and educating your chefs, kitchen staff and front of house staff about your climate friendly approach will ensure your team is confident with the menu options.
You can read further information on how Foodprint can benefit your business here.
About Elbha
Elbha Purcell is the Director of Knowledge Labs at Nutritics, helping businesses unlock the hidden value of food data. A registered dietitian, Elbha has experience working within healthcare and the hospitality sector.