It’s no secret that the way in which we produce and consume food has a profound affect on the environment. Italy’s Slow Food movement and Rome’s Sustainable Food Project have set an excellent example and have made waves by supporting local farmers and producers. These are certainly steps in the right direction, but in order to make a greater impact, global participation in a policy that provides substantial data for progress. This is exactly what the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity that’s committed to the creation of a circular economy, has accomplished in their recent study report.
“The Big Food Redesign” is a new blueprint that maps out how transforming our food systems can positively impact climate change and biodiversity. The key to this transformation is discarding our current, waste-heavy economy to a circular one, where resources continuously flow and nurture each other and nature is regenerated. Based on three key principals, the design-driven circular economy focuses on the elimination of waste and pollution, circulation of products and materials, and the regeneration of nature.
When it comes to food specifically, the foundation’s study shows that the food industry takes the cake in contributing to biodiversity loss and accounts for one-third of global GHG emissions. With these alarming findings, it’s clear that supermarkets, food brands and other industry businesses have the opportunity play a key role in making “nature-positive” changes by overhauling what they are selling and serving to consumers. The foundation emphasizes four selection and sourcing opportunities to thrust these changes into motion. By diversifying, upcycling, and relying on lower impact and regeneratively produced ingredients, supermarkets and food brands could become economical heroes not only by profoundly positive impact on biodiversity, but increase profitability for farmers as well as improve the overall health of consumers worldwide. To learn more about this study or join their community for change, head to https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/!