Good Food
type: channel
link: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com
date: 2025-09-09T10:18:29.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: What would happen if everyone went vegan?
items: 5 pieces of food packaging to avoid
items: The facts about food miles
items: 15 ways to cut your food carbon footprint
items: Is a vegan diet better for the environment?
items: 8 ways to be a better recycler
items: What are greenhouse gases?
items: Is ‘closed loop’ the future of recycling?

What would happen if everyone went vegan?
type: item
date: 2024-12-19T10:15:08.000Z
creator: Paul Allen
subject: Health
subject: Special diets
subject: Sustainability
subject: environment
subject: goodhealth
subject: intentional-climate
subject: Paul Allen
subject: Vegan
subject: vegan diet
subject: vegan future
subject: vegan healthy
subject: Veganism
subject: world hunger
description: What would happen if we all adopted a plant-based diet? It’s a hypothetical question, but environmental writer Paul Allen argues it's more relevant now than ever before.
encoded: The idea of everyone adopting a vegan diet might sound extreme, but in the last few years, the number of Britons following a plant-based diet has risen significantly. There are at least 600,000 vegans in the UK — some sources put this figure nearer 2.7 million — and although the number of meat alternatives in our supermarkets has reduced over the last year, nearly 40 per cent of meat-eaters say they have reduced the amount of meat they consume. The growing interest in vegetarian and vegan diets is all around us - from the explosion of dairy-free ‘milk’ in supermarkets to vegan options on menus and even entirely vegan restaurants. What was once a niche lifestyle choice has become mainstream. For scientists, policymakers and economists, the idea of a vegan future is especially interesting and one of the biggest drivers is, of course, the environment. Interested in veganism? To get you started, check out our top vegan recipes, including easy vegan dishes, vegan family recipes and vegan desserts. How does food affect greenhouse gases? Your fridge is essential in the fight against global warming. In fact, food is responsible for a third of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions. What’s more, meat and dairy make up nearly 60 per cent of that carbon footprint. The UN says that global farmed livestock accounts for roughly 11 per cent of all manmade greenhouse gas emissions (with methane from cows a surprisingly big culprit). But according to new research published in the journal Climate, if we all went vegan, the world’s food-related CO2 emissions could drop by 68 per cent within 15 years. Although this is a hypothetical discussion, it would provide the cut in emissions needed to limit global warming to 2º, but such a crop-based approach to agriculture may compromise water and land resources, as well as impact biodiversity. However, going vegan is not the only way to reduce food-related greenhouse gasses. Regenerative farming improves soil health on a farm by diversifying the…

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5 pieces of food packaging to avoid
type: item
date: 2024-03-06T10:56:04.000Z
creator: Paul Allen
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: Sustainability
subject: better for environment
subject: environment
subject: Ethical
subject: Green
subject: greener
subject: how to cut waste
subject: Paul Allen
subject: recycling
description: The tidal wave of plastic waste is slowly turning, but there are still some key pieces of food packaging we should steer clear of
encoded: First, some good news: the amount of plastic food packaging in the UK is falling; it was down three per cent between 2019 and 2022. Even better, figures from WRAP – the climate action group – show we recycled 55 per cent of all plastic packaging in 2022, compared with 44 per cent in 2018. The food manufacturing industry has made significant changes to the plastics they use, too. For example, there has been a 96 per cent reduction in the amount of non-recyclable black plastic available. When was the last time you saw a black plastic food tray down the ready-meal aisle? A new type of black plastic that can be detected by sorting lasers – so it can be recycled more easily – is also in use. In fact, 71 per cent of all plastic packaging is now recyclable. But there’s still a lot more we can do to reduce the amount of food packaging we use. Here are five kinds of food packaging to avoid that can make a big difference to the environment. 1. Plastic bottles Plastic bottles are one of the biggest polluters on the planet. Around the world, one million are sold every minute and most of them are single-use plastics, made using fossil fuels. Plastic bottles are also said to be the second most common type of plastic waste in our oceans. Although drinks manufacturers have made efforts to reduce plastic waste, such as fixing caps to bottles so they can be recycled together, nearly 80 per cent of all plastic packaging produced worldwide still ends up in landfill or lost in the environment, where it degrades into microplastics. Microplastics have been found on every part of the planet, from Antarctic Sea ice to the soil on our farms. They’ve been discovered in fruits and vegetables, and in the fish and animals we eat – it’s thought that we consume around one credit card every week. Ditching plastic bottles and investing in a reusable drinks bottle really is one of the most effective ways to protect the planet – and your wellbeing. 2. Fresh fruit and vegetable packaging Individually w…

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The facts about food miles
type: item
date: 2024-03-06T09:50:05.000Z
creator: Paul Allen
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: Sustainability
subject: environment
subject: environmental
subject: Ethical
subject: go green
subject: Green
subject: Paul Allen
description: Could knowing where your food comes from help you to shop more sustainably? Find why food miles are just one part of the puzzle when it comes to fighting climate change
encoded: How far has your food travelled to get to your plate? That journey – the distance between where something is produced to where it’s eaten – is what we mean when we talk about ‘food miles’. For example, home-grown herbs or local farmers’ market veggies won’t clock up many food miles. But if you can’t resist fresh strawberries on your morning yogurt in December, it means they’ve probably taken a much longer trip. Are food miles bad for the environment? If you’re regularly eating high-value, perishable products – like out-of-season berries – they’ve likely travelled a long way to reach the UK. But it’s important to look at how they were transported, not just how far. If they were air-freighted, they’ll have a higher carbon footprint due to the environmental impact of planes. But if they arrived by boat, their footprint will be a lot lower because sailing has a much smaller carbon impact than flying. Flying in food generates roughly 47 times more greenhouse gases than using cargo ships. Figures show aeroplanes produce 500g of CO2 per metric tonne of freight per kilometre of travel, while ships only produce 10-40g per km. Even if two ingredients travel the same distance – and so have the same food miles – the air-freighted goods will have a much greater environmental impact. Does transport inside the UK count? Fortunately, most of the food we eat travels by boat rather than plane – globally, only 0.16 per cent of food miles are from air travel. And in 2022, just 7 per cent of the UK’s emissions were from air-freighted goods. A bigger issue may be what happens to imported food once it gets to the UK. According to government data, transporting food within and around the country produces 109 million tonnes of CO2e annually: that’s 26 per cent of our total greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, there’s the distance we travel ourselves to buy food. If you regularly drive to large, out-of-town supermarkets, those miles – and carbon emissions – soon add up. In fact, passenger cars are…

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15 ways to cut your food carbon footprint
type: item
date: 2024-01-08T11:50:12.000Z
creator: Paul Allen
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: Sustainability
subject: carbon foot print
subject: Ethical
subject: go green
subject: Green
subject: organic
subject: Paul Allen
subject: Sustainable
description: The UK’s total carbon footprint is going down, but making subtle tweaks to the way you shop, cook and eat – using the tips below – can help reduce your individual CO2 impact.
encoded: The latest figures show the UK’s carbon emissions are falling, down 49% since 1990. This is largely thanks to a drop in the country’s coal and gas use, but individually, we still have an annual carbon footprint of 5.2 tonnes of CO2. Fortunately, saving the world isn’t just a job for superheroes or Swedish climate activists. Making several small changes to what and how you eat – from reducing food waste to updating your freezer – can cut your food carbon footprint and help reduce the total impact of CO2 on our planet. 1. Don’t overfill your kettle Fancy a cuppa? Only put as much water in your kettle as you need. The Energy Saving Trust says this tip could save water, fuel and £11 a year on your electricity bill! Add an aerator to your tap – a little widget that reduces the amount of water coming out – to save a further £20. 2. Drink 'green' tea If you are having a brew, think about what’s going in the pot. Britons use around 165 million teabags a day, but a 2019 report found many are heat-sealed using a type of plastic. Bigger brands are slowly making changes, but why not use loose tea leaves? They’re plastic-free and can be composted, too. 3. Pick better coffee pods Making coffee at home does cut costs, but coffee pods are a huge environmental hazard. Globally, 29,000 end up in landfill every month, where they can take 500 years to break down. Go for compostable coffee pods instead – you still get your caffeine fix, but without compromising the planet. 4. Avoid plastic food packaging We know single-use plastics are harmful for the environment – they’re more likely to end up in our oceans than reusable options – and it takes a lot of fossil fuels to produce them. Tips to reduce your food packaging waste include using beeswax wraps rather than clingfilm, but it’s also good to know which types of plastic to avoid. 5. Stop eating meat... Switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet can save you 0.8 tonnes of CO2 a year. It may not sound like much, but going plant-based is on…

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Is a vegan diet better for the environment?
type: item
date: 2023-08-25T10:35:19.000Z
creator: Paul Allen
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: Sustainability
subject: go vegan
subject: going vegan
subject: how to eat sustainably
subject: intentional-climate
subject: is a vegan diet good for you?
subject: Paul Allen
subject: Sustainable
subject: Sustainable energy
subject: vegan diet
subject: vegan food
description: Environmental editor Paul Allen explores whether going vegan is best for the planet, and describes what he believes a sustainable diet might look like in the future.
encoded: Whether you think it’s a fad or food revolution, the popularity of veganism has skyrocketed. Figures are hard to come by, but in 2019, there were 600,000 vegans in the UK, which is a dizzying 300% increase since 2014. We have all the vegan recipe inspiration you need. Check out our top vegan recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also have vegan baking recipes, vegan pasta dishes, healthy vegan ideas. Why are more people cutting out meat, fish, dairy and eggs? For many, the environment is a big factor. This year, a record 700,000 people signed up for Veganuary, and the environment was one of the top three reasons for taking part. But, what impact can you have in just four weeks? The charity behind Veganuary says that the 350,000 people who gave up animal products in 2020’s event could have saved the equivalent of taking 160,000 cars off the road in greenhouse gas emissions, or cutting 400,000-500,000 single flights from London to Berlin. So, imagine the benefits if everyone went vegan. How is a vegan diet better for the planet? One answer is the huge environmental cost of industrialised animal farming. Today, the UN says meat and dairy (farmed livestock) accounts for 11.2% of manmade greenhouse gas emissions. But, if we all went vegan, scientists believe the world’s food-related emissions might drop by 68% within 15 years, limiting global warming. Sound good? Well, it is. But, as always, the devil’s in the detail. Just as it’s possible to be vegan and still eat unhealthily, there are some vegan foods that aren’t great for the planet, either. For more tips on how to eat a balanced vegan diet, read our nutritionist guide or check the NHS website. If you’re vegan (or thinking about making the switch) learn how to keep your carbon footprint as light as possible. Are plant-based milks bad for the environment? Did you know it takes 74 litres of water to make a single glass of almond milk? That’s more than a typical shower. Rice milk is also quite ‘thirsty’, requiring…

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8 ways to be a better recycler
type: item
creator: Paul Allen
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: Sustainability
subject: Ethical
subject: ethics
subject: intentional-climate
subject: Paul Allen
subject: plastic
subject: plastic waste
subject: recycle
subject: recycling
description: Recycling is now part of our everyday routine, but are you making these common mistakes that could undo all your hard work?
encoded: Cardboard boxes, cans and tins, glass jars – not to mention plastic bottles – waste from our kitchen (and beyond) soon starts to stack up. The most recent figures reveal we produced just over 27 million tonnes of household waste in 2020. The good news is that 70% of this waste can be reused or recycled, but the bad news is only 44% of it is actually sent for recycling. So, what can you do to be a better recycler? 1. Think about recycling before you buy The very start of the recycling process should be when you’re considering whether to buy something in the first place. For example, if there’s an option to buy a product in a container that’s easily recyclable, such as cardboard, over something made from black plastic, then opt for the one that won’t end up in landfill. Check what can and can’t be recycled before you go shopping. 2. Reuse rather than recycle Recycling is a great idea, but it’s even better to reuse items – recycling involves using extra energy to break down and reform something into a new product, but reusing it means just that. Wash out jars to reuse them – and save money on fashionable storage jars, keep ‘trigger’ spray bottles for cleaning products or watering plants, and repurpose plastic tubs for storing smaller items like screws, hair clips or make-up. For larger and unloved items like equipment, you can list them on sites like Freecycle so they go to a new home instead of the local tip. 3. What does your local council recycle? It’s often a postcode lottery when it comes to what can be recycled. As a general rule, bottles, cans and paper can be recycled in most areas. However, your local council may take other items, such as foil, empty spray cans or perfume bottles, too. Find out what you can put in your bins to avoid the whole lot being contaminated and sent to landfill. If your local council doesn’t recycle items such as crisp packets or food pouches, you may be able to drop them off at a local collection centre. 4. Put recycling bins in every…

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What are greenhouse gases?
type: item
creator: Paul Allen
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: Sustainability
subject: environment
subject: Environmentally friendly
subject: Ethical
subject: intentional-climate
subject: Paul Allen
description: Our climate is changing due to greenhouse gas emissions. Get the low-down on what they are, where they come from and how to help reduce them in our guide to greenhouse gases.
encoded: It feels like scientists have been talking about the ‘greenhouse effect’ and greenhouse gases for decades – in fact, they’ve been discussing the issue since the 1820s – but we don’t feel any closer to solving the problems caused by greenhouse gas emissions, mainly global warming. One issue is that there’s an overwhelming amount of science to get to grips with. So let’s break the topic down into bite-sized chunks, focusing on how the food we eat contributes to climate change. What are greenhouse gases? Before we get to greenhouse gases, we need to cover the greenhouse effect. This is when heat and energy from the sun get trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere. Some of this is a natural process, but gases created by human activity are trapping more heat in the atmosphere, raising the temperature and causing global warming or climate change. These gases are therefore known as ‘greenhouse gases’ (GHG). There are seven greenhouse gases that contribute directly to climate change: • carbon dioxide (CO2) • methane (CH4) • nitrous oxide (N2O) • hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) • perfluorocarbons (PFCs) • sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) • nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) Carbon dioxide makes up the majority of our GHG, which is why so much research is focused on carbon emissions and/or reducing them. Sometimes you may see greenhouse gases expressed as CO2e, particularly when discussing carbon footprints. This is because a single item or activity can generate multiple GHG, but to keep things simple they are grouped together as a ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’ (the amount of carbon dioxide that would have the same climate-change impact), or CO2e. Where do they come from? The most recent figures show transport is responsible for 33% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, including the cars that we drive and lorries transporting goods or materials. The second largest contributor to our CO2 (27%) emissions is the production and consumption of energy, either for heating our homes or via manufacturing. On a glo…

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Is ‘closed loop’ the future of recycling?
type: item
creator: Paul Allen
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: Sustainability
subject: compost
subject: Ethical
subject: ethics
subject: Paul Allen
subject: recyclable
subject: recycle
subject: recycling
subject: reuse
description: “What goes around comes around” used to be a negative expression, but when it comes to recycling, it could be the answer to dealing with our waste. Here, we explain ‘closed loop’ recycling.
encoded: Recycling feels like it’s getting more complicated – with so many questions to ask. What type of plastic is it? Is it compostable? Can I rinse and recycle it or do I need to bin it completely? And now there’s another label to get your head around: closed loop recycling. The good news is closed loop recycling is something that local authorities or recycling companies tend to deal with, and the even better news is that we still benefit from the results. But we all have a part to play in helping ‘closed loop’ become one solution to our recycling problems. What is closed loop recycling? In very simple terms, closed loop recycling means a product is created, recycled and then turned into a new product. This could be, for example: • a glass jar is washed and reused as a glass jar, or is crushed and made into a different glass item • aluminium cans are melted down and reformed into car parts or pressed into new aluminium sheets • plastic bottles get turned into different bottles, clothes or insulation for our homes This system reduces the need for raw materials, like fossil fuels to create plastic, and reduces the impact on the planet – less waste is sent to landfill and less pollution is produced. The idea is that the original materials (glass, plastic, etc) can be reused time and time again, creating the ‘loop’. The downsides to closed loop recycling Closed loop recycling is a step in the right direction, but there are still problems, although most of these stem from our recycling process as a whole. In the UK, our recycling rates have hovered around 44-45% since 2013. There are many reasons for this, such as a lack of recycling facilities like deposit-return schemes outside the home, poor public information, differences in local authority recycling centres, and a UK recycling system that is ‘regarded as inefficient at best and broken at worst’. In addition to these major infrastructure problems, there are smaller issues closer to home. These include contamination with h…

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