Food

-24% CO₂ emissions among vegetarians

According to the WWF, adopting a vegetarian diet reduces one’s ecological footprint by 24%, and even by 40% for vegans.

Végétalienne, végétarienne ou à base de plantes – WWF – consultée le 25 janvier 2026

Overview

Food is essential for our survival. Over the past decades, our consumption has continuously increased. We consume more processed foods and more meat than ever before. This consumption is responsible for major environmental destruction, such as deforestation for soybean plantations, but it is also linked to human health issues including cancer, heart attacks, and obesity.

In addition, one-third of food produced worldwide is wasted, nearly half of which consists of fruits and vegetables. (Bernier, 2020)¹ These products could instead help feed part of the 9.2% of the world’s population living in chronic hunger.¹

Changing our diet is therefore not only an environmental issue, but also a way to improve health and quality of life.

Key Actions

Reduce meat consumption

Meat production, especially beef and lamb, generates large amounts of greenhouse gases (methane) and requires significant amounts of water and agricultural land. Reducing meat consumption lowers one’s ecological footprint and improves health.

-40% CO₂/year

An average Swiss household can reduce its annual CO₂ emissions by 40% by becoming vegetarian.³²

Buy only what you need

By purchasing only what is necessary, food waste can be reduced. In Switzerland, one-third of food is lost or thrown away, representing around 2.8 million tonnes of food per year. (Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, 2022)³

-330 kg of waste

According to the FOEN, one person throws away approximately 330 kg of waste each year.

Prioritize seasonal products

A significant part of the environmental impact of food comes from heated greenhouse production (especially using fossil fuels) and air transport for out-of-season fruits and vegetables. Choosing seasonal, local, or at least European products, and avoiding air-freighted goods, helps reduce emissions while supporting more sustainable agriculture.

-15.9% food-related impact

Choosing seasonal and organic products, without air freight or fossil-fuel-heated greenhouses, can reduce the environmental impact of a household’s diet by around 15%.⁴

Replace dairy products with plant-based alternatives

Dairy products are among the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the Swiss food system, mainly because of dairy cows (methane) and feed production. Reducing the consumption of milk, cheese, and yogurt in favor of plant-based drinks helps lower one’s carbon footprint.

-37,5% impact

n average, plant-based milk alternatives have a climate impact around 37.5% lower than whole milk.⁵

Limit ultra-processed foods

In Switzerland, around one quarter of calorie intake comes from ultra-processed foods. Exceeding this level is associated with a 10–30% higher risk of cardio-metabolic diseases according to major international studies.

~30% higher risk of heart disease

According to one study,⁶ high consumption of processed foods is linked to a 30–40% increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

Checklist

Reduce meat consumption
Buy only what you need
Prioritize seasonal products
Replace dairy products with plant-based alternatives
Limit ultra-processed foods