Sustainable diets resources

These are exciting times for the sustainable diets debate as illustrated with this selection of resources. Download key LiveWell for LIFE reports, discover relevant documents, enjoy videos and follow links to other websites.

LiveWell for LIFE reports

Cost-benefit analysis of pathways to practical implementation of sustainable diets in France, Spain and Sweden and economic impact assessment of sustainable diets in the EU

Cost-benefit analysis of pathways to practical implementation of sustainable diets in France, Spain and Sweden and economic impact assessment of sustainable diets in the EU
This study was conducted by CIVIC Consulting to assess the economic potential of the adoption of sustainable diets (diets meeting the LiveWell Plate’s recommendations) by 2020 according to various scenarios as well as the economic viability of policy options to encourage their adoption.

Cost-Benefit analysis: frequently asked questions

Cost-Benefit analysis: frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions we received about the cost benefit analysis report.

Eating our way to a healthy planet (2012)

Eating our way to a healthy planet (2012) 
Written by Tamsin Rose, an independent health and nutrition expert, this report presents the outcomes of LiveWell for LIFE’s launch event in February 2012.

Food patterns and dietary recommendations in Spain, France and Sweden (2012)

Food patterns and dietary recommendations in Spain, France and Sweden (2012) 
In this report Blonk Milieu Advies (Blonk Environmental Consultants) and Voedingscentrum (Dutch Nutrition Centre) looks at current dietary patterns in Spain, France and Sweden. They’ve also present what these countries should be eating, according to their national dietary guidelines.

Food patterns and dietary recommendations in Spain, France and Sweden – Addendum (2014)

Food patterns and dietary recommendations in Spain, France and Sweden – Addendum (2014) 
In September 2012, the Swedish National Food Administration (Livsmedelsverket) published a new dietary survey (Riksmaten 2010-11). This made it necessary to update our findings for Food patterns and dietary recommendations in Spain, France and Sweden (2012).

A balance of healthy and sustainable food choices for France, Spain and Sweden (2013)

A balance of healthy and sustainable food choices for France, Spain and Sweden (2013) 
This report demonstrates that it is possible to have a healthy, low-carbon diet that takes account of cultural preferences. The key question addressed is whether it is possible to develop a LiveWell diet which decreases greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from the current average, costs no more, meets national nutritional guidelines, and still resembles current diets sufficiently to be widely and easily accepted.

A balance of healthy and sustainable food choices for France, Spain and Sweden – Addendum (2014)

A balance of healthy and sustainable food choices for France, Spain and Sweden – Addendum (2014) 
Further to the publication of A balance of healthy and sustainable food choices for France, Spain and Sweden (2013), Spanish stakeholders expressed some concerns that the Spanish LiveWell Plate did not meet all nutritional policy recommendations issued by the Ministry of Health in 2011. With a view to address these concerns, WWF Spain set out to improve the Spanish LiveWell Plate. This addendum presents the revised Spanish Plate.

LiveWell Plate evaluation report (2013)

LiveWell Plate evaluation report (2013) 
Here we present our responses to comments and queries collected during the consultation period following the initial LiveWell Plate. The evaluation report showed that more work was needed in order to refine the tools that accompany and help communicate the LiveWell Plate in each country.

You can also read this report in:

A balance of healthy and sustainable food choices for France, Spain and Sweden – report summary (2013)

A balance of healthy and sustainable food choices for France, Spain and Sweden – report summary (2013) 
This publication summarises the main findings of the report A balance of healthy and sustainable food choices for France, Spain and Sweden. The purpose of this summary report is to enable the project stakeholders to easily understand the findings of the initial research, supporting further engagement in the next stages of the LiveWell for LIFE project. The summary draws a concise picture of our work so far; it defines sustainable, low-carbon diets by illustrating and highlighting the composition of the LiveWell Plates. It also provides some general guidance on how the research detailed in the report could be translated into practice.

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Adopting healthy, sustainable diets: key opportunities and barriers (2013)

Adopting healthy, sustainable diets: key opportunities and barriers (2013) 
This report summaries LiveWell for LIFE and the Network of European Food Stakeholders’ efforts to find the most important social and economic barriers and opportunities for sustainable diets in Spain, France and Sweden and in the wider EU. It was prepared by Sue Dibb, an independent food and sustainability consultant based in the UK.

You can also read this report in:

On our plate today: healthy, sustainable food choices (2014)

On our plate today: healthy, sustainable food choices (2014) 
This is LiveWell for LIFE’s final report where we summarise our achievements and present a way forward for adopting healthy, sustainable diets on a national – especially in our pilot countries Spain, France and Sweden – and an EU level. Here, we also present our eight policy recommendations aimed to encourage healthy and sustainable diets.

You can also read this report in:

rOn our plate today: healthy, sustainable food choices – Executive summary (2014)

On our plate today: healthy, sustainable food choices – Executive summary (2014) 
This publication summarises the findings of On our plate today: healthy, sustainable food choices with a focus on the project’s aims and achievements, and key recommendations.

You can also read this report in:

The future of food – building the foundations for change (2015)

The future of food – building the foundations for change (2015) 
This report is a non-technical overview of LiveWell for LIFE. It puts the project in context, presents what we set out to achieve and explains our multi-stakeholder approach. We also look at our key findings – from assessing what healthy, sustainable diets look like, through key barriers and opportunities to adopting this, to our key policy recommendations.

An introduction to LiveWell for LIFE

An introduction to LiveWell for LIFE 
This project brochure sets out LiveWell for LIFE’s aims and objectives. It looks at how we work – the Network of European Food Stakeholders and the pilot countries – and presents the concept of the LiveWell Plate and our original key principles.

You can also read this report in:

LiveWell FAQs

LiveWell FAQs 
What is a sustainable diet? How much meat can you eat? What’s LiveWell’s position on seasonal, organic, local food? These are some of the questions answered in this comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions document.

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Food for thought

Food for thought 
Sustainable food consumption might seem like a daunting topic. But fear not, this beautiful infographic explains the issues.

A shopping guide to a healthy, sustainable life

A shopping guide to a healthy, sustainable life 
LiveWell for LIFE’s research tells us that what’s healthy for people is – more or less – healthy for the planet too. And for some it might even be cheaper. This handy pocket guide tells you how to follow the LiveWell diet in six simple steps.

LiveWell for LIFE Case Studies

EU Policy option to encourage more sustainable food choices

EU Policy option to encourage more sustainable food choices 
In this report, IEEP and bxl-law present a concise list of possible EU public policy recommendations to facilitate the adoption of sustainable diets across the EU.

Socio-economoic barriers and opportunities for sustainable diets in Europe

Socio-economoic barriers and opportunities for sustainable diets in Europe 
This report aims to identify the social and economic barriers and opportunities for the adoption of the LiveWell Plate and sustainable diets in the pilot countries and across the EU.

Pathways to practical implementation of sustainable diets in France, Spain and Sweden

Pathways to practical implementation of sustainable diets in France, Spain and Sweden 
This study highlights the pathways identified by the WWF offices and key stakeholders in LiveWell for LIFE’s pilot countries – France, Spain and Sweden – in order to facilitate the adoption of the LiveWell Plate and sustainable diets.

Related documents and reports

West London food waste campaign – Research from WRAP carried out in 2012/13 shows that avoidable food waste has decreased by 14% in just six months and for every £1 invested up to £8 was saved.

Double Pyramid 2012: enabling sustainable food choices – This report by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition confirms that human health cannot be separated from the health of ecosystems.

Klimawandel auf dem Teller – A report by WWF Germany which analyses the consequences of meat/beef consumption of the global rich and middle classes.

Food printing Oxford – This report by Low Carbon Oxford looks at a variety of impacts from the food chain.

Wegwijzer: gezond en duurzaam voedsel – The Dutch NGO ‘Natuur en Millieu’ presents their roadmap to healthy and sustainable food.


Links and videos

Eat yourself healthy

Busting food myths – “Do we really need industrial agriculture to feed the world?” This great video gives you the answers you need to challenge this commonly held belief.

The Future of Food – Bill Gates’ blog looks at how food scientists are reinventing meat.

Food Story Animation – WWF-UK

Food Wastage Footprint 2

Change the way you think about food

Healthy diet for a healthy planet