What Is an Ethical Omnivore?
Learn what it means to be an ethical omnivore, how to make environmentally conscious food choices, and the benefits of eating meat and animal products sustainably.
- How to be an ethical omnivore?
- What is an ethical carnivore?
- What is the meaning of ethical eating?
How to Be an Ethical Omnivore
Land and water use, as well as greenhouse gas emissions, are all naturally impacted by the production of food. However, your daily food choices have a significant influence on how your diet affects the environment.
The truth is that not everyone is prepared or willing to completely give up meat, even though plant-based diets, such as vegetarianism and veganism, frequently have a smaller environmental impact.
So, how can you eat plants and meat in a way that is more environmentally friendly?
In this article, we’ll explore the environmental challenges tied to how food is produced, and more importantly, how to make smarter, more conscious choices at the dinner table.
In short, this is your guide to becoming an Ethical Omnivore—someone who eats responsibly, with both health and the environment in mind.
Eco-friendly diet
Environmental impact of food
There is always a cost to the environment when food is produced for human consumption.
The demand for food, energy, and water rises along with the world’s population, putting more and more pressure on the planet’s natural resources.
As Ethical Omnivores, or people who eat both plants and animals but do so with consideration for the ethical and environmental effects, we can become better informed to make deliberate, sustainable decisions even though we cannot completely eliminate the need for these necessities.
Agricultural Land Use and Its Hidden Cost
The use of land is one of the most important, yet modifiable, environmental concerns in agriculture.
Given that agriculture currently occupies half of the world’s livable land, land usage is an important consideration when evaluating the overall environmental impact of food production.
Unexpectedly, the majority of that land is consumed by foods derived from animals, such as cheese, lamb, and beef. When grazing and feed production are taken into account, livestock operations actually occupy about 77% of all agricultural land worldwide. However, they only supply 17% of the world’s protein and 18% of its calories.
As more natural habitats are being destroyed for industrial farming, this imbalance not only wastes important space but also puts natural ecosystems in danger.
However, there’s hope. Technological advances in agriculture throughout the 20th and 21st centuries have significantly improved crop yields per acre, helping reduce the need for additional farmland.
As Ethical Omnivores, supporting sustainable farming and protecting existing forests are practical steps we can take. You might even consider joining a local land conservation group to help safeguard wild spaces.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Food Production
Greenhouse gas emissions are another important way that food impacts the environment. The production of food accounts for about 25% of global emissions.
Methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, and carbon dioxide (CO2) are important contributors that are all connected to the acceleration of climate change.
To break down emissions related to food, the supply chain accounts for 18%, land use changes for 24%, crop farming for 27%, and livestock and fisheries for 31%.
As an Ethical Omnivore, your food choices matter. Since different foods release different amounts of greenhouse gases, opting for lower-impact options can shrink your personal carbon footprint without giving up everything you enjoy.
Keep reading to explore how simple swaps in your diet can help make a difference.
Water Usage in Agriculture
Despite the appearance of abundance, many areas actually experience water scarcity.
Approximately 70% of freshwater resources worldwide are used for agriculture.
However, there are significant differences in the amount of water required to produce various foods. Among the most water-intensive are dairy cows, cheese, nuts, farmed fish, and prawns.
Water use can be more prudently managed with the use of sustainable agricultural practices, such as planting drought-tolerant crops, collecting rainwater, and moving from sprinklers to drip irrigation.
As someone who adheres to the Ethical Omnivore lifestyle, selecting foods made with these practices can help promote larger-scale water conservation initiatives.
Fertilizer Runoff and Environmental Harm
Finally, let’s discuss eutrophication, or fertilizer runoff. This occurs when nearby waterways are contaminated by excess fertilizer nutrients, upsetting aquatic ecosystems.
The idea that organic farming is a clean solution may seem appealing, but even organic methods may use chemicals. Organic farms still have an impact on the environment, even though they don’t use synthetic fertilizers.
However, research indicates that when compared to crops grown conventionally, organic produce usually has lower pesticide residues.
Even though you might not have any control over how farms apply fertilizer, you can promote more environmentally friendly methods, such as planting trees to cut down on runoff and cover crops.
Sustainable eating
Ways to eat more sustainably
Eating locally is one of the most popular strategies for lessening your impact on the environment. Local doesn’t always equate to low-impact, even though the concept seems right because it helps local farms and shortens travel times.
According to recent research, what you eat is more important than where it comes from. Just 6% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food are caused by transportation. Rather, the kind of food is far more important.
For instance, no matter how far it traveled, choosing chicken over beef greatly lowers your carbon footprint. Local foods do, however, have an impact in some circumstances, particularly when it comes to perishables like pineapples, berries, green beans, and asparagus. These are frequently transported by air, which can produce up to 50 times as many emissions as shipping by sea.
While not all foods travel by air, buying local does offer other eco-friendly perks:
Supporting small-scale farms that may use sustainable practices
Eating seasonally
Gaining transparency on where and how your food was produced
For an Ethical Omnivore, eating local can still be part of the bigger picture—especially when combined with other mindful habits.
Cut Back on Red Meat (Without Going Vegetarian)
Animal products like meat, eggs, and dairy make up roughly 83% of food-related emissions. Of those, beef and lamb have the highest carbon footprints, thanks to the land they require, the feed they consume, and their methane emissions.
To put this into perspective:
Beef generates around 60 kg of CO2 equivalents per kilogram
Poultry produces only 6 kg
Fish: about 5 kg
Eggs: roughly 4.5 kg
Translated into pounds, that’s 132 lbs for red meat vs. 13 lbs for poultry. The difference is huge.
Simply consuming less red meat can significantly reduce your carbon footprint, even if you don’t switch to a plant-based diet. Selecting locally grown, sustainably farmed, grass-fed beef can make a small difference, but reducing red meat consumption completely will have a greater overall effect.
Giving up meat is not a requirement of being an ethical omnivore. It entails choosing your food type and frequency more carefully.
Embrace Plant-Based Proteins (Without Ditching Meat)
Increasing the amount of plant-based proteins in your diet is another significant change you can make. Compared to the majority of animal proteins, foods like lentils, beans, tofu, quinoa, nuts, and seeds emit substantially fewer emissions.
Making this work doesn’t require you to go vegan. In recipes, splitting the protein is a great strategy. For example, try using cooked lentils or tofu crumbles in place of half the ground meat in a pasta or chili dish. This technique lessens the meal’s environmental impact while maintaining the meal’s signature flavor and texture.
Adding more plant proteins not only helps the planet—it can also boost your fiber intake, lower cholesterol, and make your meals more budget-friendly. The Ethical Omnivore balances plant and animal foods in a way that supports both personal health and the planet.
Tackle Food Waste Like a Pro
Finally, one of the easiest and most effective ways to live as an Ethical Omnivore is by cutting down on food waste. Globally, food waste is responsible for around 6% of greenhouse gas emissions—a number that’s easy to lower with a few practical changes.
Here’s how you can start:
Buy frozen produce if you won’t use fresh items soon
Choose vacuum-sealed frozen fish for longer shelf life
Use edible parts of vegetables (like broccoli stems)
Shop the “ugly produce” section if your store has one
Don’t overbuy—plan meals and shop with a list
Check expiry dates before purchasing perishables
Freeze leftovers or ingredients you can’t use right away
Organize your pantry and fridge to avoid forgotten food
Use scraps to make stocks or soups
Get creative: make “clean-out-the-fridge” meals once a week
Not only will these steps help the environment, but they’ll also save you money.
Reducing waste is a crucial part of being an Ethical Omnivore—one that has immediate and long-term benefits.
FAQs
1. What does it mean to be an “ethical omnivore”?
It refers to intentionally choosing and consuming both plant and animal-based foods while prioritizing sustainability—opting for options that minimize environmental harm like greenhouse gases, land use, and water consumption.
2. Does eating locally significantly reduce my carbon footprint?
Not always. Transport contributes relatively little to a food item’s total environmental impact. A better approach is to choose lower-impact foods (e.g., poultry or plant proteins) over high-impact ones (e.g., beef), regardless of origin
3. How can I still enjoy meat while being eco-conscious?
Moderate your red meat intake and consider grass-fed or sustainably raised versions. But the most effective step is simply reducing red meat consumption overall .
4. What are sustainable alternatives to animal protein?
Plant-based proteins—like legumes, tofu, quinoa, and seeds—have a much lower environmental footprint and can partially replace animal protein in meals .
5. How important is reducing food waste?
Critical. Globally, food waste accounts for around 6% of GHG emissions. Tips include buying frozen or vacuum‑sealed produce, meal planning, using scraps, and storing foods properly.
The Bottom Line
Making thoughtful, responsible food choices that promote health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare is the goal of an ethical omnivore. Ethical omnivores seek to strike a balance between the advantages of consuming animal-based foods and ethical and environmental considerations by selecting locally sourced, organic, pasture-raised, or sustainably caught animal products—and minimizing needless consumption. Even though it might not be flawless, it’s a step in the direction of a more considerate and caring eating style.
