Small Actions, Big Impact - Ethical Consumption : FOOD

We had the opportunity to speak to ASIJ's 5th grade Japanese class again this year about sustainable food and how to find eco-friendly products. 

When we asked the students what they try to do on a daily basis, some said “I carry an eco-bag!”, “I compost!” etc.

What should you think of when looking for eco-friendly foods?  How about starting from these as a guide?

☆ Look for International Certified labels

☆ Know the differences between the types of milk

Soy, oats, and almonds are the most common plant-based milks found in supermarkets. Plant-based milks have the advantage of being eco-friendly and healthy, as they emit fewer greenhouse gases during the production process than cow's milk and require less land and water for production.

Photo by Anita Jankovic on Unsplash

☆ Understanding Use-by date vs Best before date

Use-by dates indicate the time from the date of manufacture of a food product that it can be safely consumed, while best before dates are the time by which the taste and other qualities of a food product are preserved. First of all, what does these expiration date refer to? Check the label. If it is something to be consumed immediately, try to get into the habit of taking it from the front. You can reduce the amount of food that is thrown away by simply taking from the front of the shelf!

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

This time, they tasted soy milk and oats milk, and we also talked about the certification labels on the snacks they often eat. We hope that the next time they go to the supermarket, they will remember even a little bit of what we talked about.

Even small actions can have a big impact.