Switching to plant-based meals has massive climate benefits

London - Switching to plant-based meals twice a week equivalent to planting 13.88 billion trees, new data analysis shows.

German food tech start-up, Greenforce, says their research has found the positive impact plant-based meals could have on the  greenhouse gas footprint. 

Their analysis found the UK adult population could save up to 291 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year if they were to replace just two meat meals a week with plant-based alternatives. 

Saving 291 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year would be equal to the carbon capture impact of 13.88 billion trees each year, based on 21kg of carbon capture, per adult tree, per year. 

Greenforce says the environmental impact of modern, meat-heavy diets is massive.

This means the world has a fantastic opportunity to make huge savings in carbon footprints, as well as land and water footprints by altering food choices.

Just by switching a few meals a week to plant-based options, Kiwis can make an incredibly positive impact for climate and help preserve our land, soils and water systems. 

The Greenforce analysis shows the results are impossible to ignore. A total of 291 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gasses could be saved from switching just two meals a week, per year, for the average UK adult.

It is easier for people to switch if the plant-based meals are available, are tasty, easy-to-make, and healthy.

Greenforce has put almost a decade of research into creating meals that are not only sustainable but also delicious, practical and highly nutritional. 

Their latest research is one of many studies that shows the massive potential dietary change can make on the climate crisis.

Another study published earlier this year unearthed the potential environmental advantages of swapping out animal products for plant-based food. 

Researchers found that high-income countries could drastically reduce their agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by almost two-thirds if they lowered their meat and dairy consumption.

The study, published in Nature Food, focused on 54 high-income countries, including Australia, France, Germany, the UK, and the US.