Why - and whether - veganism is good for the environment

There are various reasons why people choose to eat vegan or even pursue a completely vegan lifestyle. One of these reasons is that a vegan diet contributes to environmental protection. I hear this all the time, and I can certainly relate to it. Nevertheless, I wanted to know more, so I did some research.

So: What exactly is so good about veganism for the environment? And is this statement even true?

Vegan diet – trend, lifestyle or hybrid?

A diet can be more than just the way we consume food. Many of us also define part of our social, ethical, or ecological attitudes through our diet. This is also true for most vegans. Different forms of being vegan can be distinguished: For people who live a vegan lifestyle, it certainly includes abstaining from foods of animal origin. Furthermore, ethically motivated vegans also ensure that everyday items like clothing or cosmetics are free of animal products or animal testing.

It's obvious to all of us that the vegan lifestyle is currently booming. You can find more and more vegan products in supermarkets, new vegan restaurants are opening everywhere, and you're increasingly discovering vegan alternatives and dishes on every menu. It's not entirely clear to me why veganism has become such a trend. Is it people's increased awareness of what they eat? Or the desire to consume fewer processed foods or less sugar? Or is it ultimately the realization that we're outliving our resources and increasingly feeling the effects of climate change?

I now think it's a combination of various reasons—as with most "trends." Perhaps the question of the trigger isn't so important after all. But rather, what is actually behind these arguments. Of course, we are not talking about a new episode of Galileo Mystery, and I don't want to play the expert. I'm simply interested in the topic and would like to share my thoughts and impressions.

So what are the reasons why a vegan diet is good for the environment?

If you look at the websites of Peta or WWF around, you can quickly access information about environmental protection and nutrition: For example, a meat-free dish has on average three times less impact on the climate than a dish with meat.
Here are some reasons why animal products cause widespread environmental destruction.

Climate damage

First, the production of animal products causes climate damage. Deforestation for animal feed and pasture production accounts for a large portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. According to PETA, these agricultural emissions will account for 50-80% of total greenhouse gases by 2050.

Land use and biodiversity

Another issue is land use, as almost all agricultural land is used for animal husbandry and animal feed. Almost all of the soy grown, for which several hectares of rainforest are cleared, is used as animal feed—as is 50 percent of the harvest.

In addition, the cultivation of animal feed and the deforestation of rainforests leave no room for biodiversity.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Waste of resources and water

The argument that would probably immediately spring to mind for most of us is the waste of resources. Animal husbandry is highly inefficient, and in addition to feed and water, resources are required for transportation and electricity generation.

In addition to resource waste, water waste also plays a role. According to PETA, around 30 percent of the water used worldwide is used for the animal industry. It should be noted that plant-based products also require water, of course—but less than animal products.

Water pollution

The manure produced by animal husbandry and feed production, as well as the use of medications and pesticides, lead to water pollution. This limits not only the quality but also the quantity of available drinking water. Increased consumption of animal products naturally also results in more manure, which further pollutes groundwater.

Contaminated soil and air pollution

Soils are also suffering from the rising demand for meat and the increased need for food. The soils are overstressed and less fertile. This naturally means less crops can be cultivated overall.

In addition, the air is also polluted by agricultural animal husbandry. Large amounts of dust, particulate matter, and other gases are produced. These not only harm the animals but also contribute to climate change.

Summary of points

Through a vegan diet

• climate damage is reduced
• the land use and thus also the deforestation of the rainforest is reduced
• fewer habitats of any animal species are at risk
• not so many resources and water are wasted
• Soils and the quality of groundwater and drinking water are less polluted
• the air stays cleaner

So is a vegan diet always better?

No, not automatically. Ready meals and vegan substitutes are often industrially processed multiple times and therefore consume a considerable amount of energy. So it's worth considering alternative products to replace animal products.

In addition, the ingredients for alternative products are often exotic. Components such as coconut, which come from distant countries, require complex transport and travel a long distance before they end up on our shelves.

Furthermore, it's undeniable that vegetables and fruits can also cause high CO2 emissions. However, you can and should make sure you choose seasonal, regional, and organic products.

Overall, it's probably safe to say that the way you implement it is crucial here, too. Just because you eat vegan doesn't automatically mean you're living a super healthy lifestyle and aren't harming the environment at all.
Because damage always occurs in some way.Nevertheless, it's important to be more conscious of your own eating habits, to be more careful with our food, and simply pay a little more attention to our environment. Whether you decide to live a completely vegan lifestyle, generally limit your meat consumption, or pay more attention to the way animals are raised is ultimately up to you.
But something do for our environment – ​​we can all certainly do that.

If you would like to learn more about the environment and sustainability, mindfulness or healthy nutrition, take a look here over.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash