The decisions you make at the grocery store have a direct impact on the environment. We have a lot of power, and our decisions can help lessen the impact on our natural world.

Until relatively recently, grasslands, woodlands, and deserts made up the majority of the earth’s surface. Wild ecosystems have been replaced by farmland during the last few hundred years as humans have turned to agriculture to provide the food needed to sustain human life. Only about 5% of land that isn’t desert or ice was used for agriculture 1,000 years ago. Farmland now accounts for more than half of the available land. Even though livestock feed pastures and farms account for more than three-quarters of all agricultural land, they yield fewer than 20% of total calories consumed by people. Consuming less meat and opting for plant-based alternatives could help reduce the number of animals needed to feed people all over the world.

For more ways on how to lessen the impact of your grocery purchases on the natural world, continue reading below!