Sustainability isn't limited to how people power their homes and vehicles. Another area of focus that is gaining visibility is sustainable eating. Having a diet that is healthy and good for the planet is a win-win for everyone, and it doesn't mean you have to quit your full-time job to maintain a garden in your backyard.
You can still go to your full-time job and eat what is good for you and the planet because other people have you covered. Here's a look at sustainable sources for your next meal, and what they mean for the future.
1. Beef
It's been several years since science successfully got the word out regarding the impact of greenhouse gases coming from cattle. For meat-lovers who are also earth-lovers, this presents a conundrum. For those who can't go without their once-a-week juicy steak, there finally comes an answer.
Researchers have uncovered a method to produce steak, and it's not a plant-based steak. It's grown from the cells of bovine at high-tech growers such as Aleph Farms.
The impact this could have on the future of cattle growing is astounding. Instead of herding cattle raised for consumption from pasture to pasture, the cattle population can be reduced, freeing up land for more earth-friendly produce.
2. Produce
The impact of shipping produce on the environment is well known. Fruit shipped from overseas could be grown locally. Instead, it is oftentimes shipped across water routes and travels by trucks to retailers across the nation.
The mass amounts of energy used to transport groceries is unfathomable, yet it occurs daily. More and more, grocers are looking to local sources of food in order to do their part in being socially, economically, and environmentally friendly.
The impact of local growers on local economies could be life-changing for communities that have been struggling with their economies. Growing produce locally isn't just kind to the earth, it's also kind to pocketbooks.
3. Plastic
When plastic came into being, it seemed a smart alternative to glass and other forms of food packaging. Nobody could have predicted the impact plastic would eventually have on daily lives and the environment. Not only does it take hundreds of years or longer to break down, but producing it releases dangerous toxins into the air.
Today, there isn't a household in America that doesn't store plastic in some form or another. Eventually, the plastic will find its way into landfills and the oceans where its effects on nature are profound.
It's on consumers to change the packaging industry. The only way to make a difference is to stop supporting companies that use plastic to create products and packaging. Given the popularity of many products morning call obituaries , and to the detriment of animals and their ecosystems, so far, it appears plastic is here to stay.
The facts and their alternatives are unchallenged. It takes time, effort, and money to change the status quo, and big industries are reluctant to change. If change is to happen in time to preserve the current standard of living, it's on consumers to make it happen.
