BELGIUM, BRUSSELS. How much attention do you pay to the impact of your food choices on the environment? Are you willing to cut down on red meat? Is the government doing enough to promote sustainable food? Those are some of the questions several national consumer groups asked to Europeans in a survey spanning 11 countries, coordinated by The European Consumer Organisazion (BEUC).The organisation unveils the results in a new report.
The main outcome is that most consumers across Europe are willing to change their eating habits. However, to get there they need the sustainable food choice to become easier (including the right price signals, improved information, and more sustainable options).
As the Covid-19 pandemic is rapidly transforming how consumers relate to food, the survey shows consumers were already leaning towards opting for more sustainable choices. Food is the main driver of environmental impacts generated by household consumption in the EU, followed by housing (especially space heating) and mobility (particularly the use of private cars).