Environmental friendliness of domestic products: illusion or reality?

Environmental friendliness of domestic products: illusion or reality?

Did you know that the perception of food can often be deceptive? A current survey by the University of Göttingen clearly shows that many consumers overestimate the environmental friendliness of domestic products. The study in the journalFood Quality and Preferencewas published, surveyed around 1,000 people about the ecological balance of peppers, apples and beef from Germany as well as from EU and non-EU countries. It found that imported food is often viewed as more harmful to the environment, although the opposite may be true. Gabot reports that many consumers cannot correctly assess the actual ecological impact of food.

A look at the data shows that many domestic products are classified as environmentally friendly, but this can be misleading. For example, peppers from Spain, which grow in unheated greenhouses, are often perceived as less environmentally friendly than the German variety. In reality, Spanish peppers may be more environmentally friendly as they require less fossil fuels for heating, while German peppers come from heated systems. This shows how important more precise information about origin and environmental labels are in order to make our consumption more sustainable.

Different perceptions, different realities

Consumers in Germany often assume that the ecological balance of local food is better. The researchers at the Georg-August University of Göttingen made it clear in their study that imported food is in many cases more environmentally friendly. The assessment of the environmental impact shows: While the value for German peppers is 32.7, the value for Spanish peppers is 49.5 and for Moroccan peppers it is even 55.1. When it comes to apples, Germans rate domestic products at 23.7, while apples from Chile rank significantly worse at 59.5. Similar patterns can also be seen in beef. The numbers clearly show that origin alone is not enough to make sustainable decisions.

The Economic Institute highlights that CO₂ emissions from beef can be up to 40 times higher than other protein sources. This illustrates the enormous ecological footprint that our diet often leaves behind. Consumers should therefore not only base their purchasing decisions on the origin of the products, but also inform themselves about the actual environmental and climate impacts.

The need for more transparency

The current survey also shows that many respondents are not sufficiently informed to make informed purchasing decisions. The researchers warn that transport impacts are often overestimated and that international trade is not inherently harmful to the environment. Clearer product labeling is crucial to help consumers better understand the real environmental impacts. Research and knowledge therefore recommends that indications of origin should be weighted in combination with other information such as environmental labels in order to promote sustainable purchasing decisions.

Ultimately, one thing remains clear: it's worth taking a step back and questioning your own shopping habits. Knowing where food comes from and how it is produced could not only protect our taste buds, but also the environment. Let’s get to it!