Sustainable diets and biodiversity

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cite the case of the average Italian citizen, 4 2 square

global metres exploited for food compared to 13 7

total, and that of a citizen of London with a global im-

pact of 75 square metres out of 180. At this point, it is

interesting to see to what extent the eating habits of

individuals affect the Ecological Footprint.

In order to estimate the extent to which the food

choices of individuals affect the Ecological Footprint,

two different daily menus were analysed: both are

balanced from anutritional point of view, both in

terms of calories and nutrients (proteins, fats and

carbohydrates), but in the first one, the protein is of

plant origin (“vegetarian menu”), while in the sec-

ond, it is mainly of animal origin (“meat menu”). The

meat menu has an environmental impact that is two

and a half times higher than the vegetarian one: 4 2

square global metres compared to 16; that is, a dif-

ference of at least 26, which represents a very sig-

nificant share in the daily impact of an individual.

Based on this data, we can hypothesize what the

reduction of environmental impact of an individual

might be if he or she simply changes eating habits.

Composition of a vegetarian menu and its

environmental impact

Composition of a meat menu and its environmental

impact

Variations in the ecological footprint depending on food choicesimpact

Breakfast

1 portion of fruit

(200 gr)

4 rusks

1 global m^2

Snack

1 portion low-fat

yougurt

1 packet of unsalted

crackers

1 global m^2

Mid-morning snack

1 portion low-fat yogurt

1 fruit

3 global m^2

Dinner

1 portion of vegetables:

steamed green beans

(200 g)

and potatoes (400 g)

with grated cheese (40 g)

7 global m^2

Lunch

1 portion of pasta

with fennel

1 portion of squash

and leek quiche

4 global m^2

Breakfast

1 cup of low-fat milk

4 cookies

3 global m^2

Snack

1 portion low-fat yogurt

2 global m^2

Mid-morning snack

1 portion of fruit ( 200 g)

1 global m^2

Dinner

1 portion of vegetable

soup/pasta with peas

1 grilled beef steak (150 g)

1 slice of bread

20 global m^2

Lunch

1 portion of cheese pizza,

mixed green salad

16 global m^2

Source: BCFN, 2011

Source: BCFN elaboration of data from the ecological footprint network.

WEEKLY DIET WEEKLY IMPACT

[GLOBAL m2]

AVERAGE

DAILY IMPACT

[GLOBAL M2]

MEAT

MENU

7 TIMES

5 TIMES

7 TIMES

2 TIMES

294

164

116

42

23

16

MEAT

MENU

VEGETARIAN

MENU

VEGETARIAN

MENU

VEGETARIAN MENU

2030

16

TOTALKCAL

GLOBAL m^2

MEAT MENU

2140

42

TOTALKCAL

GLOBAL m^2

PROTEIN FATS CARBOHYDRATES

15 % 25 % 60 %

PROTEIN FATS CARBOHYDRATES

14 % 30 % 56 %