Eating more sustainably on a budget

Learn some of the easy ways you can make food choices that are kinder to the planet and budget-friendly. Read our top tips on how to make lower-impact choices that won’t break the bank – it could be easier than you think!

Try veggie swaps

Everyone’s got a different kind of diet, so look into which kinds of choices might suit your family best. If you’re not sure where to start, we have plenty of recipes to inspire you to try out more of a veggie diet, rich in plant-based proteins like lentils and chickpeas, and a quick internet search for veggie or vegan recipes will have you spoilt for choice!

Buy from local, sustainable sources

Where possible, buy British meat and fish that’s certified as sustainably sourced. All Co-op fresh and frozen meat is British (except for our continental imports like our Co-op Parma Ham or Italian Salami), while as much as 75% of our fish is certified as sustainably sourced by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Take on a sustainability challenge

Fancy taking on an even bigger sustainability challenge? Try committing to a more plant-based diet.

Remember, that doesn’t have to mean going fully vegan – instead, plan to eat a few more plant-based meals a week, and build from there. Check out our vegan recipe section for inspiration, and don’t forget to check out the meat-free alternatives available in your local Co-op.

Swap and save

If you regularly enjoy a morning latte from your favourite café, try swapping it for a homemade coffee in a reusable cup, made with Co-op’s Fairtrade coffee and some of our fresh Co-op 100% British milk. It saves you from using a paper cup and saves you money, too!

Plus, instead of buying takeaway sandwiches, why not bring your own lunch from home a couple of days a week in a reusable lunchbox – a budget-friendly choice that reduces waste from packaging.

Tackle food waste

One of the most important things you can do to care for the environment, is to not throw food away. A report from WRAP estimates that if food waste was a country, it would be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases! So try and use every scrap….

• Bread that’s approaching the end of its life can be used for this marvellous vegan Kentucky fried cauliflower
• Got milk that’s about to go off? Whip up a batch of this comforting crusted fish pie.
• Put the cheese scraps lingering at the back of your fridge to good use in this cracker crust quiche.
• These flourless banana bars are perfect for using up bananas that are on the verge of going brown.
• Broccoli stalks are delicious but all too often end up in the compost. Instead, make up a batch of this nourishing broccoli stalk soup
• Nip the sprouting parts and any green bits off your old potatoes and save them from the bin with this bean and fish finger pie.

Choose Fairtrade

Whenever you buy Fairtrade, you’re helping support sustainable farming practices in the developing world, helping guarantee better prices and working conditions, while supporting more eco-friendly farming practices.

We stock more Fairtrade goods than any other UK supermarket, so look in store for products with the Fairtrade logo, whether you’re picking up chocolate, wine, flowers and more.

Shop at the Co-op

We’re passionate about protecting people and the planet, from our commitment to Fairtrade, to our exacting standards for livestock farmers, our climate change commitments and sourcing standards for at risk ingredients like palm oil and soy.

All Co-op branded cosmetics and household products, including cosmetics, toiletries and household cleaning products, are Leaping Bunny approved, and we ensure the wood and paper in our products are sourced ethically – 95% of it is either FSC-approved or recycled.

Plus, we’ve been supporting the global clean water movement The One Foundation for over a decade, helping them invest in water, sanitation and hygiene programmes across the world. Every bottle of water bought in a Co-op helps to support clean water projects and changes lives due to our partnership with Water Unite.

So the next time you go shopping, why not try some of the above easy tips? If we all make small changes individually, we can make a big difference collectively, so see what planet-friendly changes you could make to the way you eat today.