Switzerland, a land of biological philistines: find out if you belong there too

What has the largest ecological footprint: a kilo of seasonal tomatoes, organic tomatoes from Spain, beef from the region or two fair trade mangoes?

In a representative survey by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI), which belongs to the Migros Group, nearly three quarters of the thousand respondents in Germany gave the wrong answer.

Most people didn’t see the bigger environmental problem in the meat from the neighboring pasture, but in the tropical fruits that were flown in. According to the so-called «European Food Trend Report 2023» a high level of knowledge about sustainable food.

Many people are unaware of the impact of their diet on the environment and climate, or they misjudge the impact of their decisions, the study authors write.

The lack of knowledge is also reflected in the way purchasing decisions are made in the supermarket. In the study, 58 percent of the test subjects indicated that the taste of the food was “particularly important” to them. This is followed by the nutrient content (52 percent) and the price (52 percent).

In contrast, only a fifth of those surveyed mentioned environment and climate as important purchasing criteria. This is despite the fact that the food system is responsible for a good quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.

What prevents consumers from making more sustainable decisions? The study locates the greatest leverage in the retail sector. Retailers were able to adjust their assortment relatively quickly and steer consumer decisions through campaigns. For example, it is conceivable to reward resource-saving consumption through campaigns.

Discounter Aldi, which banned all “flying fruit” from its range at the beginning of this year, is also mentioned as a positive example. The shopkeeper is an exception. Climate-damaging foods, such as meat, are often promoted with discount campaigns. An evaluation by CH Media recently showed that meat without labels is usually advertised in action, especially during the barbecue season.

From a consumer’s point of view, it would help most if more sustainable food became cheaper. 37 percent of those surveyed would also like clear labeling of healthy and sustainable solutions.

About two years ago, Migros was the first retailer to introduce a sustainability label for its private label products with the “M-Check”. Coop followed in November 2022 with the “Eco-Score”, also for its own brands.

Environmental and consumer advocates welcome the move in principle, but are not satisfied with its implementation. For example, Greenpeace writes in a statement that if each provider introduces its own label, this often overwhelms the consumer.

Solution: Question 1: seasonal tomatoes from the region, question 2: both answer options, question 3: vegan, question 4: local beef, question 5: tea.

(watson / aargauerzeitung.ch)