Carbon footprint over calories?

Do you ever consider the carbon footprint of your meal when dining out?  British restaurant The Canteen has made this easy for diners with the introduction of  menu that prioritises meals’ carbon footprints over calories.

 The Bristol-based restaurant, in partnership with the UK’s largest vegan charity Viva! is running this first-of-its-kind trial with menus to encourage diners to consider the impact that their food choices on the planet.

The Canteen’s trial, using carbon calculations and labelling provider My Emissions,  follows recent UK legislation requiring restaurants to include calories on their menus in a bid to combat obesity.  

The Canteen’s trial is in partnership with the UK’s largest vegan charity  Viva! Which is calling for menus to prioritise carbon footprint labelling over calories as a matter of urgency as the climate crisis grows.

Meat, dairy, fish and eggs have a considerably higher negative impact on the planet than some vegan alternatives. Viva! is striving for growing , Viva! awareness of the link between our food choices and the environment.  

“It is imperative that we act now if we want to save our planet, and it’s clear that a vegan diet is the best way for an individual to make a difference” said Laura Hellwig, Managing Director at Viva! 

“Raising awareness of the carbon footprints from the production of meat, dairy, fish and eggs is crucial – a lot of people have no idea that eating one beef burger can be as damaging as driving the average UK petrol car for 10 miles,” she added. 

Displaying carbon calculations on menus is arguably more important to the health of the UK and the planet than calories at this pivotal moment in time. 

Given the urgency of the climate and wildlife extinction crises, Viva! is calling on the government to step-in and make carbon labelling mandatory, starting with local restaurants to demonstrate the positive impact that awareness can have.  

“We’re really pleased to have partnered with The Canteen. It’s been interesting to see the responses from different restaurants. Unsurprisingly, those with meat on the menu have so far declined to take part which, we believe, is due to them knowing that meat-based dishes will have a considerably higher carbon footprint than vegan options,” said Matthew Isaacs, Co-Founder of My Emissions.

Article written by Julia M. Thompson—United Kingdom