Greener food and drink

Producing and transporting food can impact on the environment. A few small changes to how you choose and prepare food can help protect the environment and support farmers and producers who look after the countryside.  

Try not to waste food

The average UK household spends more than £480 a year on food that could have been eaten, but ends up being thrown away. Throwing food away wastes all of the energy needed to produce, package and transport it.. There are many ways you can cut back on wasting food, such as using tasty leftover recipes or planning your weekly meals.  

• Love Food Hate Waste NI - Practical advice on reducing the food you waste    

What you eat

Some foods have a bigger impact on the environment than others because of the way they are produced, packaged, transported or cooked. For example, food grown in heated greenhouses uses a lot of energy.  

• Buying food: greener choices  

Buy sustainable fish

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) logo provides assurance that a seafood product has come from a well-managed fishery and has not contributed to the problem of over-fishing.  

• Green food labels  

Buy fresh and locally in season

Buying food and drink when locally in season, and unprocessed or lightly processed food, is likely to mean that less energy has been used in its production. Where food has been produced and stored under similar conditions, buying food that has travelled less can also be a positive choice as it reduces transport emissions.

• Buying food: greener choices  

Food produced with respect for wildlife and the environment

Some food is produced to particular standards that help reduce negative impacts on the environment and support wildlife. Find out about labelling schemes and what they mean.  

• More on green labels  

Use energy efficient appliances for cooking and storing your food  

When buying a fridge, freezer or electric cooker choose one with the highest energy efficiency rating, using the European Energy or Energy Saving Recommended labels. Gas is usually a more efficient choice for cooking than electricity.  

Compost kitchen waste

Composting food waste makes good fertiliser for your garden. Many councils offer subsidised compost bins, or collect kitchen waste.  

• More on composting  

Tap water

In the UK, mains drinking water meets very high standards. Tap water requires around 300 times less energy than bottled water (for packaging and transport), and doesn’t leave bottles to be disposed of.