Welcome to the Loughborough University Sustainability Blog Guide – your go to guide to practical yet fun ways to live and work more sustainably. This blog series is part of Sustainability Week (10-14 November) and is designed to support both students and staff in making meaningful sustainable changes.

Our eating choices have a big impact on our ability to live sustainably. Mindful eating habits not only support sustainable living but also improve our health and foster positive habits in other areas of life.

Shopping tips

• Shop locally and seasonally: visit the local Loughborough market or look for food marked with a Red Tractor logo.
• Avoid plastic-wrapped food: choosing food without plastic packaging helps reduce waste and protect the environment.
• Buy organic where you can: reducing pesticide use helps protect ecosystems, soil health, and biodiversity.
• Make mindful swaps: many vegan alternatives like sauces, baked goods and desserts often taste just as good as their non-vegan counterparts.
• Check it’s certified: Look out for Fairtrade, RSPCA Assured and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) logos on products.
• Rethink your weekly shop transport: walking or choosing delivery can cut emissions compared to driving. If you share a household, combine trips to reduce your carbon footprint even further.
• Collect your local takeaway: walk to your local takeaway for collection rather than getting it delivered, reducing carbon emissions. Bonus tip: reuse any plastic Tupperware for storage!

Alternative diets and habits

• Go vegetarian: avoid eating meat and fish products, which are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Go pescatarian: avoid eating meat products only so you can access a more sustainable source of high-quality protein with essential vitamins. 
• Try veganism: avoid consuming any animal-derived products, which include meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey. This has the additional benefit of limiting harm to animals and the environment from their non-meat produce. 
• Be a flexitarian: going full-time vegetarian is not always possible, so try having days or weeks where you avoid eating meat, fish or animal-derived produce entirely.
• Use more plant-based protein: add beans, lentils, nuts, soya-based products and grains to your meals alongside or as a replacement for meat and fish.
• Meal prep lunches: replace daily meal deals and get in the habit of batch-making sandwiches, salads and other lunchtime meals to have on campus.

Try this

The next time you go to the shops, pay attention to how much plastic packaging and animal-based products you are buying. Then write a list of sustainable alternatives and slowly start switching what you buy.