SUSTAINABLITY ADVOCATE MELISSA HEMSLEY SHARES HER TOP TIPS ON HOW BRITS CAN LIVE AN ECO-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE

With Brits returning to their busy schedules as the lockdowns begin to ease, it’s easy to neglect the simple, sustainable swaps we can be making day-to-day to protect the planet.

Last year, the main greenhouse gas CO2 reached record levels – 417 parts per million1, a level not seen for many years. However, many Brits are unaware of why it is important to live more sustainably.

Looking after our planet has never been more important, and there are numerous ways Brits can make environmentally friendly choices every day to create a more sustainable lifestyle, while also benefitting our health.

In particular, growing fruit and vegetables at home has soared over the pandemic, with more than half of adults cultivating their own produce over the last 12 months2.

The research found that saving money (32%), helping the environment (23%), being more sustainable (28%) and eating more fruit and veg (15 %) were the main drivers for this.

Yet many are unaware that the best foods nutritionally are also the best for the planet, so we don’t have to decide between nutrition and sustainability.

The humble mushroom is growing in popularity as a ‘superfood’, whilst also being one of the most environmentally friendly vegetables stocked in supermarkets.

In fact, The UK and Ireland Mushroom Producers provide enough mushrooms to supply the whole of the UK’s supermarkets; available 52 weeks of the year3.

Opting for local, seasonal produce is key, no matter where you are globally, so consumers can reduce their carbon footprint while supporting local businesses and suppliers at the same time.

Importing produce such as mushrooms from across the world can spend up to 36 hours in transit, and travel more than 1,100 miles just to reach our plates4.

These international mushrooms are notably less fresh and have a significantly higher carbon footprint than their locally produced counterparts.

When purchasing produce from your local supermarket, it’s important to always check the country of origin, which can be found on front of pack to ensure you’re purchasing the freshest, highest quality ingredients available to you.

Best-selling cookbook author and sustainability advocate, Melissa Hemsley, offers her top five tips for more sustainable living:

Small steps add up! For instance, if we have a choice of two packaging options, go for the compostable or recyclable one or ask your local shop to stock something in a more sustainable way. The more we ask, the more chance we’ve got for change.

Try looking for loose items, refillable items including spices, and compostable or recyclable packaging when you buy produce. For instance, loose mushrooms can be purchased, eliminating the need to bring packaging into the household.

Using up every last bit of food is important, so don’t throw away your mushroom’s stalks and don’t peel them. Just give your mushrooms a wipe with a damp tea towel and chop the stalks and fry them up. Mushrooms are one of the most versatile vegetables and leftovers of the ingredient can be utilised in a range of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

As a food waste tip, have a ‘bin audit’ – go into your bin and see what you throw away, as it’s likely you may throw away the same things and it could give you inspiration to have another go next week at wasting less.

We’re all so busy during the week, so if you can do a big shop in the week, and top up a little if you need, you’ll have more success in saving money, not wasting food and having less stress around food.

Make time to ensure your fridge and cupboards are packed with fresh, seasonal foods. Mushrooms are a great ingredient that I use often as they are in season 52 weeks of the year!