Have you ever considered the impact of your shopping habits on the environment? It’s important to realize that agriculture and food production have a significant impact on the environment, and consumers can play a vital role in reducing this impact with their purchasing decisions.
Currently, agriculture occupies 50% of the world’s habitable land and uses 70% of the world’s freshwater. Additionally, food production accounts for a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, and 78% of freshwater and ocean eutrophication (which occurs when water is polluted with nutrient-rich substances) is caused by agriculture. This industry also heavily impacts wildlife, with livestock accounting for over 90% of mammal biomass on earth, outweighing wild mammals by more than 15 to 1. Agriculture has also been identified as a leading contributor to the extinction of over 28,000 species.
As consumers, we can also make a difference by reducing our environmental impact through our shopping choices. For instance, walking or biking to the store instead of driving can help reduce carbon emissions. Choosing locally produced food and sustainable packaging options can also decrease the overall carbon footprint of our grocery shopping. To find out more about how you can help protect the environment, refer to the accompanying resource.
