Marika Day: How you can support the environment with your food choices

It might not feel like you’re affecting a big change just by shopping for fruit and vegetables that are in season, but think of it this way: if something isn’t in season here in New Zealand, that usually means it’s been transported to your local fruit and vege shop or supermarket from another part of the world.

Buying local reduces transportation and is a big part of reducing the carbon footprint of your weekly food shop. While not everyone has access to something like a farmer’s market, trying to shop as close to the farmer as we possibly can helps to reduce the need for transport, refrigeration and storage.

Buying local, in-season produce means you’re getting the most delicious possible version of that tomato or strawberry at their peak for flavour. To help you find out what’s coming in and out of season, save this seasonal food guide from 5+ A Day¹ before your next shop. 

Some people might think you need to go vegetarian or vegan to make your diet more sustainable, but taking small steps to replace a few meat or dairy products can go a long way. When lots of us adopt a new habit – like implementing a meat-free Monday into our meal plan – it can have a considerable impact on the environment.

Farming meat and dairy uses a lot of water. In 2022, according to the Ministry for the Environment, 36% of total carbon emissions were produced from dairy and beef cattle in New Zealand². Poultry contributed roughly 1% of total carbon emissions³. While poultry is becoming an increasingly popular choice of protein on our plates, choosing a free-range option is another step up in supporting our environment, while still enjoying a good source of protein. 

When it comes to buying and eating seafood, making sustainable choices is especially important. We’re overfishing our oceans, and need to make sure the balance is maintained to ensure their health in the future.

Responsible fishing and farming preserve the natural environment of the ocean and the marine life that call it home. Independent conservation organisation, Forest and Bird, have created the Best Fish Guide⁴ to help New Zealanders choose more sustainable seafood options.

This one might seem obvious, but reducing food waste is one of the most significant things you can do to help the environment.

According to Love Food Hate Waste NZ, New Zealanders send almost 160,000 tonnes of food to landfill every year⁵, creating over 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Try to plan ahead when you shop by relying on your freezer to keep meats, seafood and some fresh, seasonal produce frozen to eat later on – or buy local produce that’s been snap-frozen at the source.

The benefits of shopping small, shopping local and planning ahead stack up when you consider the impacts of growing, transporting and packaging food. Think again on bulk deal specials; are you really saving money, or will it eventually end up in landfill?

With just a few small, achievable tweaks to your shopping and eating habits, you can help make an enormous difference for the future wellbeing of our planet.