Study from Göttingen: Local products are not always more environmentally friendly!

Study from Göttingen: Local products are not always more environmentally friendly!

Fresh local products are a hit, right? But a recent survey by... University of Göttingen makes us pause. Around 1,000 people were asked how they assessed the ecological balance of food, especially peppers, apples and beef, from Germany and other countries. The results show that imported food from non-EU countries perform worse in the eyes of many consumers, even if this does not always correspond to the facts.

The comparison between Spanish and German peppers is particularly interesting. This is mostly grown in unheated greenhouses in a more environmentally friendly way than the domestic variety, which often comes from heated systems. Researchers Professor Achim Spiller and doctoral student Dorothea Meyer warn against misleading perceptions about the environmental friendliness of food.

The call for clarification

In order to enable consumers to make informed decisions, more precise labeling of origin and the introduction of environmental or climate criteria are encouraged. The goal is clear: consumers should not unintentionally choose products that cause more harm than they realize. How do you support eco-friendly shopping, you ask?

A step further in this direction could be the development of environmental product declarations (EPD) based on life cycle assessment methods. How Fraunhofer IBP reported, these declarations are becoming increasingly important. They represent a uniform information basis for assessing the sustainability of a product. EPDs are often a prerequisite for public tenders, especially in the construction industry.

The life cycle in focus

The life cycle assessment itself analyzes the environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle of a product, for which the term life cycle analysis (LCA) is also used. The AOK describes that these analyzes are not only used for cars, but for numerous products. The influence of such reports extends far beyond individual purchasing behavior and can influence political and economic decisions.

So next time we choose our vegetables, maybe we should think again about the actual environmental impact. An informed purchasing decision could not only please our wallet, but also the environment.