Tag: Carbon Dioxide

• Tofu vs. Quorn

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  There is much debate, inside and outside of the plant-based world, on whether meat substitutes are better for the environment than conventional meat products and the nutritional value of such substitutes. This post aims to answer some of the questions around this topic, and maybe convince some of you to try a plant-based meal!

  Meat

  The beef industry is the biggest polluter of all food industries, with the largest of its carbon footprint stemming from land use and farming. Per kilogram of beef, 60kg of CO2 emissions accompany it. Chicken and fish, are thought to be the biggest sources of protein with their main benefit being building and maintaining muscle.

  Quorn

  Quorn is a brand of plant-based protein options, made from mycoprotein. Quorn claims to be low in saturated fat and high in fibre, too much saturated fat creates a spike in cholesterol increasing your chances of heart disease or stroke, whereas fibre helps lower your cholesterol and contributes to a healthy gut/digestive system. Mycoprotein is made from a natural fungus, Fusarium venenatum, which is fermented. This process releases 95% less carbon dioxide than curating beef.

  Tofu

  Soya is the world’s most cultivated legume and the starting point of tofu. The process is actually very simple, soy milk is simply curdled, pressed into a block and left to cool. Many Thai and Chinese dishes make use of tofu’s qualities, it can be eaten raw where it is soft or can be cooked to become crispy. Tofu is rich in nutrients, particularly complete protein which basically means it holds all the essential amino acids needed for growth, repair and immunity. Many climate deniers argue that soy production drives deforestation, particularly in the Amazon Rainforest, however, they fail to understand that 80% of soybean production goes to feeding livestock, and to produce 2g of meat it requires 10g of soy. When it comes to purchasing tofu, buying organic has little effect on the carbon footprint of the item, it is more effective to look at the location of production and make sure it is a country/region with adequate deforestation laws.

  The verdict

  Meat can be considered to have the most protein value, however, for me the sheer amount of carbon emissions (and often animal cruelty) that comes with farming animals such as cows and chickens rules this option out! So, we’re left with Quorn and tofu. Per gram, Quorn has a higher protein content (almost double), however, tofu is seen to have a higher iron content. Tofu is also gluten-free and contains the same amino acids as meat.

  Personally, I like to have a mix of Quorn and tofu in my diet, I find tofu works really well in stir-fries but I also enjoy meat-free sausages with my roast potatoes! There is no right answer when it comes to plant-based proteins, each has its benefits and drawbacks, which will vary from person to person, but they are all more effective in reducing carbon emissions than conventional meat farming.

  22nd Nov 2024

  Carbon Dioxide, CO2, Consumerism, Diet, Meat, Plant-based Diet, Quorn, Tofu

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• The Field of Electronics

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  It is evident that technology has weaved its way into every aspect of our lives, from payment methods to communication, and work to shopping. The average household will have nine connected devices, the question is, how do we make sure they fit in with our sustainability agenda? This post discusses the reduction of e-waste, how different actions can contribute to creating a circular economy, and the consequences of doing nothing.

  E-waste

  The waste from electrical products is known as e-waste, we rely heavily on such products that it has become one of the most rapidly growing waste industries. A total of 50 million tonnes of e-waste is produced every year, which is the equivalent weight of every commercial plane on the planet.

  Consequences

  Environment: the materials within electrical devices are highly toxic to the environment, when these are not disposed of properly they end up in landfills (which often catch fire) and chemicals such as lead and lithium are released into the soil and air. These pollutants cause land contamination and as a result, destroy habitats and ecosystems. Additionally, these chemicals can also end up in water sources, especially in wet climates. Finally, the breakdown of landfills produces greenhouse gasses such as methane and carbon dioxide which are key drivers in climate change.

  Society: in addition to being exposed to pollutants, landfills attract bugs and create odour which is often experienced in local communities. As we continue to add to these landfills, we further exasperate these issues, resulting in those living near landfills experiencing health problems from increased diseases.

  Legal: those living in developing countries are often forced to disobey the law and illegally sell or buy goods in desperation to earn money. This creates what economists call black markets. In this context, individuals, or a group of individuals, will pay to take ‘recycle’ old electronics, often offering more than certified companies. As customers receive more money for their items, they are more likely to engage in these practices. Monitoring and reducing black markets is a difficult task requiring internal governance.

  Mitigation

  I have outlined the largest consequences of e-waste, and now it’s time to address how we can mitigate these consequences through changing individual, corporate, and government practices.

  Consumer Mitigation: It is first important for us to evaluate if we need to buy new technology, are we able to use what we have or upgrade the same product? This is a huge step in reducing waste as it completely cuts out an entire product life cycle. However, sometimes it is necessary to buy a new product, but much like clothes, electronics can be bought second-hand. Music Magpie is a great website which allows you to trade in your electronics for cash, or buy used electronics which have been refurbished. If you use other traders, make sure to check that they are certified to ensure they use the correct practices.

  Corporate Mitigation: even though recycling electronics allows for the recovery of materials which can be given another life, it is not a perfect process, the magnets used to separate materials are run on large amounts of fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Therefore, there should be a focus on developing technology where the magnets can run on renewable energy sources, contributing to a circular economy.

  Government Mitigation: France was the first country to ban planned obsolescence – the intentional act of limiting the life of a product to generate long-term sales – however, most other countries have not followed suit. To me, this is the opposite of ‘designing out’ waste where companies are misusing scarce resources for their own benefit, at the literal expense of the customer. Therefore, I suggest more governments move to criminalise planned obsolescence with impactful repercussions for the unabiding

  Take Responsibility

  It was estimated that 5.3 billion phones were thrown into landfills in 2022, if we pair this with research which suggests recycling 130 million phones can save enough energy to power 20,000 homes, in 2022 we could have powered an extra 800,000 homes.

  The Earth system cannot cope with human activity for much longer, we are creating irreversible damage at an immense pace. Use the power you have to take individual responsibility and do your bit to save our home.

  8th Oct 2024

  Carbon Dioxide, Circular Economy, Climate Change, Consumerism, E-waste, Electronics, Landfill, Recycle Economy, Technology, Waste

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