Everything you need to know about the process, the history, and the benefits
When deciding whether or not to go vegan, many people consider the environmental impact of eating meat. Indeed, the meat industry is notoriously inefficient and the large volumes of greenhouse gases emitted during industrial farming is one of the main reasons people choose to adopt a plant-based diet.
However, when it comes to harming the environment, plant farming isn't entirely blameless either. Agricultural methods, combined with the fact that many fruits and vegetables are transported by airplane, mean that many plants actually have a considerable carbon footprint.
Check out this gallery to discover the pitfalls of a plant-based diet.
With the meat industry responsible for 14.5% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions, it is clear that eating meat is not environmentally friendly.
However, we need to be careful when deciding to switch to a plant-based diet, as this can also have a damaging impact on the environment for a number of reasons.
The air transportation of off-season fruits and vegetables has a very high carbon footprint. According to a researcher at the University of Oxford, this transportation can generate more greenhouse gas emissions per kilo than poultry meat.
A recent study conducted at the University of Manchester concluded that asparagus, often imported from Peru, has the highest carbon footprint of all vegetables consumed in the UK, producing 5.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kilogram of asparagus.
The use of artificial fertilizers to grow crops is also harmful to the environment: according to the International Fertiliser Society, artificial fertilizers are responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This is because the production of an artificial fertilizer releases carbon dioxide and methane, while the use of the fertilizer on crops releases nitrous oxide.
Certain agricultural methods such as tilling also release high volumes of harmful gases into the atmosphere and this accelerates erosion.
Of course, the environmental impact of adopting a plant-based diet depends heavily on which fruits and vegetables you choose to eat, since some foods have a far worse carbon footprint than others.
Avocados, for example, have a disproportionate impact on the environment. As well as having a heavy carbon footprint, the growing demand for the beloved fruit is contributing to the water-shortage crisis.
A single avocado tree in California needs up to 209 liters of water per day. This is because their natural habitat is a hot, moist rainforest and their roots are not adapted for taking in large amounts of water.
Avocado trees therefore have to be irrigated regularly, which is problematic in many of the water-stressed regions where avocados are grown. The demand for water has even led to illegal extraction from rivers in areas like Peru and Chile.
Other fruits that use a disproportionate amount of water include mangoes and plums. It takes 686 liters of water to grow a kilogram of mangoes and 305 liters to grow a kilogram of plums.
Mushrooms are also responsible for releasing large volumes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to a study funded by the US Department of Agriculture, the production of one kilogram of common mushrooms, such as button or portobello, releases 2.13-2.95 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
According to the US Mushroom Council, however, the production of one kilogram of mushrooms releases less than 0.7 kilograms of carbon dioxide.
The main reason that mushroom production emits so much carbon dioxide is that mushrooms are grown in dark rooms that need to be kept warm.
Mushrooms themselves also emit carbon dioxide as they grow, and when carbon dioxide levels in the growing room get too high, the excess gas is exchanged with fresh air.
Finally it must be considered that many of the composts used in growing mushrooms contain peat, whose extraction can damage bog ecosystems and harm their future ability to store carbon.
Another environmentally-unfriendly vegan product is palm oil, which nowadays is found in around half of all supermarket products. It is a very common ingredient in products like vegan cheese and ice-cream.
The cultivation of palm oil is problematic for the environment because it is often done irresponsibly. In South East Asia deforestation for the purpose of growing palm oil has pushed the orangutan to near extinction.
According to Greenpeace, in 2018 a football pitch-sized area of forest was being lost every 25 seconds in Indonesia due to palm oil farming. This has led to the introduction of the sustainable palm oil scheme.
Another culprit when it comes to the environment is cocoa and raw cacao products. According to a researcher at the University of Oxford, after meat products, cocoa is one of the biggest contributors to deforestation and global biodiversity loss.
It is estimated that between 1988 and 2008, 4.9-7.4 million acres of tropical forest were lost to cocoa plantations. This may be a drop in the ocean compared to products like soy and palm oil, but the problem is the location of the deforestation.
Deforestation for the purpose of growing cocoa is particularly harmful to global biodiversity because it occurs in sensitive areas of the rainforests of the Amazon, West Africa, and South East Asia.
Cocoa also has a considerable carbon footprint: according to an analysis by the University of Michigan, 1 kilogram of cocoa powder produces 33.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide, while 1 kilogram of chocolate produces 11.2 kilograms.
The amount of greenhouse gases for which foods like chocolate are responsible varies greatly and it has been argued that better information on packaging would help people to choose more environmentally-friendly products.
Perhaps an unlikely suspect for being harmful to the environment, tree nuts are very popular among vegans because they are a great source of protein and essential nutrients.
Yet tree nuts are very demanding on the world’s resources because they are water-intensive. It has been estimated that every kilogram of shelled nuts we purchase requires 4,134 liters of fresh water.
Almonds in particular require large amounts of water, pesticide, and fertilizer, which means that they have a disproportionate impact on the environment.
It has been pointed out, however, that while nuts require a large amount of water their nutritional value is also very high. This means that they are more attractive than other thirsty foods with a lower nutritional value, such as rice.
When it comes to the carbon footprint of tree nuts, figures vary. It is thought that cashews are the worst culprit, emitting up to an estimated 4.99 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kilogram.
While figures may vary, it is clear that the decision to go vegan should involve careful attention to where and how products are being produced.
See also: These are the most appetizing vegan-friendly cities in the world.
The pitfalls of a plant-based diet
When it comes to the environment, veganism isn't all it seems
FOOD Vegan
When deciding whether or not to go vegan, many people consider the environmental impact of eating meat. Indeed, the meat industry is notoriously inefficient and the large volumes of greenhouse gases emitted during industrial farming is one of the main reasons people choose to adopt a plant-based diet.
However, when it comes to harming the environment, plant farming isn't entirely blameless either. Agricultural methods, combined with the fact that many fruits and vegetables are transported by airplane, mean that many plants actually have a considerable carbon footprint.
Check out this gallery to discover the pitfalls of a plant-based diet.