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Benefits of vegan/vegetarian diets

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Benefits of vegan/vegetarian diets

GHG emissions

-One kilogram (kg) of beef results in 60 kg of GHG emissions—nearly 2.5 times that of the closest food type, lamb and mutton. In contrast, the same weight of apples produce less than one kilogram of GHG emissions. On average, emissions from plant-based foods are 10 to 50 times lower than animal-based types. More info

 

-The average annual carbon dioxide emissions from a typical meat diet are 2,055kg (5.63kg CO2e) per day, compared to 1,391kg for vegetarians (3.81kg CO2e per day) and 1,055 kg for vegans (2.89kg CO2e per day), which is less than half the amount of vegan emissions compared to meat. More info

 

-The livestock sector is a significant contributor to global human-induced GHG emissions. Livestock supply chains emitted an estimated total of 8.1 gigatonnes CO2-eq in 2010 (using 298 and 34 as global warming potential for N2O and CH4 respectively). Methane (CH4) accounts for about 50 percent of the total. Nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) represent almost equal shares with 24 and 26 percent, respectively. More info

 

-The below image shows global estimates of emissions by species: It includes emissions attributed to edible products and to other goods and services, such as draught power and wool. Beef cattle produce meat and non-edible outputs. Dairy cattle produce milk and meat as well as non-edible outputs. More info

 

-A 2021 report by Dr. Sailesh Rao found animal agriculture is responsible for at least 87% of greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Healers position paper has been published by the Journal of Ecological Society. It argues that the influence of the meat and dairy industry has ‘underestimated’ the environmental impact of livestock farming. More info

 

-A 2018 Greenpeace report found that “global meat and dairy production and consumption must be cut in half by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change and keep the Paris Agreement on track. If left unchecked, agriculture is projected to produce 52% of global greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades, 70% of which will come from meat and dairy.” More info

 

-Even the most environmentally damaging plant milk type (almond) is better for the planet than dairy milk. See the image below. More info

 

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

Water use

-Even the most environmentally damaging plant milk type (almond) is better for the planet than dairy milk. More info

 

-Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME) claim that water requirements to meet food demand in 2050 could reach between 10-13.5tn cubic metres per year – about triple the current amount used annually by humans. Meat production requires a much higher amount of water than vegetables. IME state that to produce 1kg of meat requires between 5,000 and 20,000 litres of water whereas to produce 1kg of wheat requires between 500 and 4,000 litres of water. The table below shows typical values for the volume of water required to produce common foodstuffs. Beef, sheep and pork meat all require high volumes of water for production. Compared to the production of meat, vegetable foodstuffs require considerably less water. More info

 

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

Land use

-According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, deforestation is of concern because it is being carried out in order to develop farmland for livestock production and to cultivate crops for animal feed. On average about 4 million hectares of forest were felled annually in the Amazon of South America between 2001 and 2010, most of which was used as land for soybean cultivation and cattle grazing. More info

 

-Even the most environmentally damaging plant milk type (almond) is better for the planet than dairy milk. More info

 

-Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon rainforest destruction. More info

 

-77% of the world’s farmland is used to graze farmed animals or to produce crops to feed farmed animals. More info

 

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

Carbon offset

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Carbon offset

There are many activities that result in carbon (or generally greenhouse gas) emissions including, but not limited to, travel, use of electricity, food waste, etc. In many cases it is almost impossible to completely reduce these emissions to zero from the source however, there is a way to make up for these emissions after they have been created. The method of doing this is known as carbon offset. Carbon offset is any activity that compensates for carbon emissions or other greenhouse gases (GHGs). More info.

There are 3 steps in the carbon offsetting process. These are numbered below (more info):

1. Calculating carbon emissions

2. Reducing emissions at the source

3. Offsetting these emissions through a specific project or scheme

In the case of step 3, carbon offset projects can include building renewable energy farms, increasing building insulation, carbon sequestration through soil and trees etc. (more info). This link provides several projects that can be invested in to offset carbon dioxide. There are also carbon offset calculators available such as this.

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

Sustainable Seafood

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Sustainable Seafood

 

Environmentally sustainable seafood is wild or farmed seafood that is harvested in ways that don’t harm the environment or other wildlife — helping to ensure healthy and resilient ocean ecosystems. For wild-caught seafood that means the populations are well-managed and not overfished, and fishing gear has minimal impact on habitat and other wildlife. Aquaculture, or the farming of fish and other seafood, holds great promise as a solution to the increasing pressures on our ocean resources. When good practices are used, it’s possible to farm seafood in a way that minimizes impacts to the environment. Such operations limit habitat damage, disease, pollution, escapes of farmed fish and the use of wild fish as feed. More info

Benefits of Seasonal Eating

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Benefits of Seasonal Eating

 

Seasonal Eating:


1. Supports the Local Economy: Eating with the seasons is a great way for consumers to help cultivate a more resilient, sustainable food system. When you purchase food that’s in season from local farms, you’re supporting both local farmers and the local economy.
2. Is Better for the Environment: Seasonal choices can also mean supporting food that spent less time traveling and in storage, which can significantly cut back on environmental impacts. When you purchase directly from local farmers, you can also ask them about their production methods; farmers selling at farmers’ markets or farm stands are less likely to use pesticides and more likely to use regenerative methods like cover crops that encourage soil health.
3. Is Healthier: Studies also indicate that seasonal food can be more nutritious than food consumed out of season. In fact, some research shows that fresh produce loses nutritional value over time, so berries shipped from overseas in the winter months may not be as nutrient dense as the berries purchased locally during the summer.

More info

 

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

What is FSC certification?

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What is FSC certification?

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a forestry conservation organisation that prides themselves in protecting forests for future generations by setting standards for responsible forest management. More info.

Part of what they do is offering certification for forestry products in order to ensure that these products come from responsibly managed forests. Responsibly managed forests are named as such since they provide environmental, social and economic benefits. More info. 

The FSC also provides a set of principles and critera that give a foundation for forest management standards. More info.

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

Fair Trade Certification

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Fair Trade Certification

 

Fair Trade Certified seal on a product signifies that it was made according to rigorous fair trade standards that promote sustainable livelihoods and safe working conditions, protection of the environment, and strong, transparent supply chains. More info

This was put together for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

Benefits of native and endemic plant species

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Benefits of native and endemic plant species

Native plant species are plants that are found naturally and historically within a certain region. Endemic plants are native plants with the added factor of not being found anywhere else except that particular region. Both native and endemic plants are specifically adapted to the conditions of the area they are found in whether it be extremely dry and hot or very cold and wet climates.

One of the benefits of using native and endemic plants in gardens is the fact that they can conserve water as they are adapted to these conditions. They also need less time, effort and money to tend to because of this. More info. Native and endemic plants also provide essential habitat for native wildlife, assisting in the maintenance and balance of native ecosystems. More info.

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

Land use in the meat industry

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Land use in the meat industry

 

-According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, deforestation is of concern because it is being carried out in order to develop farmland for livestock production and to cultivate crops for animal feed. On average about 4 million hectares of forest were felled annually in the Amazon of South America between 2001 and 2010, most of which was used as land for soybean cultivation and cattle grazing. More info

 

-Even the most environmentally damaging plant milk type (almond) is better for the planet than dairy milk. More info

 

-Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon rainforest destruction. More info

 

-77% of the world’s farmland is used to graze farmed animals or to produce crops to feed farmed animals. More info

 

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

 

Water use in the Food Industry

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Water use in the Food Industry

 

-Even the most environmentally damaging plant milk type (almond) is better for the planet than dairy milk. More info

 

-Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME) claim that water requirements to meet food demand in 2050 could reach between 10-13.5tn cubic metres per year – about triple the current amount used annually by humans. Meat production requires a much higher amount of water than vegetables. IME state that to produce 1kg of meat requires between 5,000 and 20,000 litres of water whereas to produce 1kg of wheat requires between 500 and 4,000 litres of water. The table below shows typical values for the volume of water required to produce common foodstuffs. Beef, sheep and pork meat all require high volumes of water for production. Compared to the production of meat, vegetable foodstuffs require considerably less water. More info

 

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

GHG emissions related to different forms of travel

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GHG emissions related to different forms of travel

Transport as a whole releases a large amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. Presently, these GHG emissions account for 1/5 of the global carbon dioxide emissions. More info.

Despite this large proportion of carbon emissions being associated with transport, making informed decisions on the forms of travel we use should help mitigate some of these emissions. The below graph indicates the different quantities of carbon dioxide emitted by different forms of travel.

As indicated by the above graph, the forms of travel that have the highest emissions include air travel and cars. Using a bus and carpooling lie somewhere in the middle with the most efficient forms of travel being trains and ferries. It is additionally mentioned that the most efficient ways to travel are walking, bicycle or the train. More info.

Making these decisions on what travel to use to get to our destination can have an active role in the decrease of carbon, and more broadly GHG, emissions.

These facts were compiled for the purposes of the sustainable events toolkit created under the Sustainable Conferences and Events project implemented by Topkinisis Travel and AKTI Project and Research Centre. The Project ENTERPRISES/0618/0046 is co-funded by the European Regional Development Funding and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation.

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