Federal Environment Agency calls for new standards for sustainable nutrition!

Federal Environment Agency calls for new standards for sustainable nutrition!

“What’s going on in the city of the cathedral”? Let's shed some light on the current discussion about the ecological footprint of our food. The Federal Environment Agency has issued very fresh recommendations that are not only important for our diet, but could also have far-reaching consequences for our environment. In a report from eco-world.de it becomes clear that there are three central factors in the ecological assessment of food Criteria that should be considered: greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and water consumption. This could be a decisive step in the right direction, especially at a time when more and more people are trying to eat a climate-friendly diet.

Currently, however, it looks like this: A uniform standard for taking environmental impacts into account in the ecological footprint of food is still missing. The expert dialogue, which was carried out last year on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment, aimed to identify key areas of impact and clarify the current scientific status. And indeed: The experts agree that the three factors mentioned play a central role and can be easily integrated into various areas such as education, politics or even product packaging.

The current situation and its challenges

So what is wrong with it? A central problem is that the data and methods for assessing greenhouse gas emissions and water use are good. The challenge remains in assessing the biodiversity impacts, where there are still different approaches. Many participants in the expert dialogue said that this important topic should not be left out, even if the relevant methods are not yet fully developed.

When we talk about the global connections, the picture becomes even clearer. According to the Global Footprint Network, global demand for natural resources has consistently exceeded the supply of regenerated resources since 1970. This has not only local but also global implications. Studies show that in order to achieve a standard of living like that in Switzerland, we would need around three Earths.

The responsibility of companies

Another pressing issue is the environmental impact of companies. These lie not only in our own company, but also in the global supply chains. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) emphasizes that construction, agriculture and mobility are the main drivers of environmental pollution. In fact, companies need to take an active role here to reduce the impact of their production. The results of a study on environmental hotspots in eight important Swiss sectors show where the biggest challenges lie.

The “Planetary Boundaries” are another concept that shows where there is still room for improvement. The current reporting on environmental footprints for Europe offers valuable information on how to achieve a sustainable economy that is viable for everyone in the sense of a “One Planet Economy”.

In summary, we can say: There is still a long way to go before we can establish a resource-saving and sustainable way of life. However, the efforts currently underway are a promising start. So let's work on not only looking at our food, but also our environment and taking responsibility!