HOW RAINFOREST-FRIENDLY IS YOUR WEEKLY SHOP?
Four simple changes you can make to help tackle deforestation
Almost 60% of us say destruction of the rainforest is one of the environmental issues we’re most concerned about*. We’re right to be worried; last year, clearance of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil alone hit a 12-year high**, with implications for climate change as well as the plants, animals and people that live there.
While none of us would like to think we contribute to this, we could be unwittingly. Greenpeace estimates that 80% of global deforestation takes place to clear land to produce our food. Here are four things you can do to take a stand:
BUY LESS MEAT AND DAIRY
‘One of the biggest changes we can make is to reduce our consumption of meat and dairy, and not just red meat – chicken and pork, too,’ says Greenpeace’s head of forests Anna Jones. ‘That’s because 90% of the soya we import from countries such as Brazil and Argentina, where forests are cleared to grow it, is used to feed these animals.’
LOOK FOR GRASS-FED MEAT
If it’s from animals ‘predominantly’ fed grass, ie 51% or more, meat can be sold as grass-fed. The rest of their diet may include soya, a crop linked to deforestation. Organic lamb or beef must come from animals fed at least 60% grass, and some suppliers, such as Pipers Farm (pipersfarm.com), stock 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.
CHOOSE RAINFOREST-FRIENDLY
When you buy chocolate or coffee, look for the Rainforest Alliance certification logo. This shows that a product has been grown in a way that does not contribute to deforestation.
AVOID PALM OIL
Most of us know that palm oil (found in food items ranging from bread to ice cream) has been linked to deforestation in countries such as Indonesia. Switch to palm oil-free products, or look for those that contain certified sustainable palm oil.