Environmentally friendly food

Farming landscapeThe best way to support more environmentally friendly farming is to ensure that you buy food accredited to a higher, recognised standard. Many consider organic food to be the most environmentally benign form of farming, with the LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) Marque assuring some environmental benefits. The Red Tractor Assured standard also assures good environmental practice to above minimum UK legal standards.

Restaurants interested in speciality menus may also like to consider buying ‘heritage varieties’ or 'rare breed' food from native British breeds of livestock, and traditional varieties of fruit and vegetables to support genetic diversity and traditional farming practices.

Key certification schemes for food produced to higher environmental standards, which are promoted in the London 2012 Food Vision, are as follows:

Soil Association Organic  Organic Food Federation logo  Organic Farmers and Growers  Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF)  Rainforest Alliance Certified  

For information about environmental standards for fish and seafood, see our separate page.

Use food produced to high environmental standards

  • The London 2012 Food Vision commits the London 2012 organisers to using a proportion of food from production systems supporting higher environmental standards such as LEAF Marque, Rainforest Alliance and Organic, and to serve only sustainable fish. You can too! Sign up to the Food Legacy pledge.
  • Buy from food producers that guarantee higher environmental standards, such as organic and LEAF-Marque certified food. You can find suppliers on the local and sustainable food directories promoted through this website. Some also run farm visits to enable buyers to understand the benefits of standards, and to meet food producers, for example LEAF Demonstration Farms.
  • Buy food that is in season, and design menus to use the best of local and seasonal produce.
  • If you buy fish, adopt a sustainable fish policy and sign up to the Sustainable Fish City campaign.

 

What is healthy and sustainable food?

Follow the links below, to find out about support or advice to help turn good food ideas into action:

Join up Assured Food Standards Local and seasonal food Animal welfare Good food for good health
Food waste Sustainable fish Environmental farming Fairtrade Reducing energy
Reducing water use Safe food Public sector food Good food training Living Wage

 

Please note that the Food Legacy 2012 programme is not involved with the catering contracts or food supply for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games themselves.
This is the responsibility of the London 2012 organisers. Our work is inspired by, but independent of London 2012.