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Sustainable Production and Consumption

Volume 51, November 2024, Pages 584-598
Sustainable Production and Consumption

Contribution of ultra-processed food and animal-plant protein intake
ratio to the environmental impact of Belgian diets

Author links open overlay panelClaire Denos ^a ^b ^c, Stefanie 
Vandevijvere ^b, Lieselot Boone ^a, Margot Cooreman-Algoed ^a, 
Michiel De Bauw ^b ^d, Wouter M.J. Achten ^c, Jo Dewulf ^a
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.10.008Get rights and content
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Abstract

There is growing concern about the various impacts of food
consumption, both on human and planetary health. Given the
context-specific nature of consumption patterns, evaluating their
national-level impacts is crucial for proactive policy development.
This research aims to evaluate the environmental impact of current
Belgian diets, with particular attention to the contribution of food
groups, ultra-processed foods (UPF), and the animal-to-plant protein
ratio. The methodology consists of three key stages. Firstly, the
Belgian diet was summarised, based on data from the Belgian National
Food Consumption Survey 2014/2015. Secondly, the origin of the most
frequently consumed foods was traced using trade databases. Finally,
a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment was conducted to determine
the impact of Belgian diets on climate change, water use, land use,
and fossil resource scarcity. In this third step, an iterative
procedure for selecting the food items to be included in the study
was performed. The iterative approach resulted in the inclusion of
227 food items in the analysis. The results indicate greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions of 4.4 [4.27-4.54] kg CO[2]-equivalent per person per
day. Red meat (35 %), beverages (16 %), dairy products (12 %) and
snacks (10 %) are identified as primary contributors to climate
change. Similar results were observed for land use impacts. Water use
and fossil resource scarcity exhibited different trends, with
beverages being the most impactful food group. Moreover, UPF account
for 50 % of the total climate change and land use impacts, with a
linear relationship observed between increased UPF consumption and
GHG emissions and land use. A similar linear trend is observed
between the ratio of animal-to-plant protein intake and both climate
change and land use impact categories. A shift from the current
protein ratio to a ratio of 40/60, as suggested in the Flemish Green
Deal Protein Shift has been shown to result in a reduction in GHG
emissions of the diet by 29 %. This study emphasises the need to
target the consumption of high-impact foods such as UPF and
animal-based products. Future research will investigate the
relationship between environmental and health impacts.

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Keywords

Life cycle assessment
Environmental impact
Belgium
Diet
Protein
Ultra-processed food
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(c) 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of
Institution of Chemical Engineers.

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