Between 2012 and 2016, the ratio between animal and plant-based food products consumed in the Netherlands was roughly 50/50. The Dutch population ingested more animal proteins (61%) than plant-based proteins (39%) per day during that period. The main sources of protein were meat, bread, cereals, pasta, rice and dairy. More than half of all plant-based proteins were ingested through bread and other cereal products. In terms of environmental impact, the consumption of meat, cheese and dairy accounted for most of the greenhouse gas emissions, land use, acidification and freshwater and salt water eutrophication. Fruit, olives, fruit and vegetable juices, coffee, tea and meat accounted for most of the water consumption.
For this study, RIVM used data from the Food Consumption Survey 2012–2016 and RIVM’s own database on the environmental impact of food products. Next year, this study will be updated using VCP (Food Consumption Survey) data from 2019–2021.

The adverse health effects of consuming ultra-processed foods and beverages have been carefully documented, but to date there has hardly been any research into the environmental impact of such products. The LCA data was used in this study to investigate the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages and environmental impact in the EPIC-NL cohort.
Higher consumption of ultra-processed beverages, such as soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, was associated with a higher environmental impact than lower consumption. Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a lower environmental impact. By decreasing the consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages, we can reduce the environmental impact. Replacing ultra-processed foods with non-processed foods can have unintended adverse effects on the environment, in the form of a larger environmental footprint.
 

Agriculture, the largest user of blue water, is responsible for approximately 70% of global water scarcity. In addition to the amount of water used for food production, the location of water consumption is crucial for mapping local water scarcity. In this publication, the LCA data was used to calculate water consumption volumes and locations related to the average Dutch diet of persons between 19 and 79 years of age. Water consumption was 160 litres a day for men and 153 litres a day for women: approximately 30 to 40 litres more than a 120-litre wheelie bin filled to the brim with water. What we eat in the Netherlands comes at the expense of water resources not only in the Netherlands itself, but also in countries facing water scarcity. These include Spain, South Africa, Chile, India and the United States.

The LCA(Life Cycle Analysis) data was used in this study to link environmental data to data on daily food consumption in the Netherlands. The study identified the daily environmental impact of Dutch food consumption in the 2012–2016 period. It also identified the consumption moments and food products that accounted for the largest share of that daily environmental impact. The study assessed the environmental and health impacts of Dutch food consumption, broken down by age, gender and consumption moment. The most important food categories for greenhouse gas emissions were meat, dairy and beverages, and the most important categories for (blue) water consumption were beverages, nuts and fruit. Finally: on average, healthier diets as recommended by the 2015 guidelines for a healthy diet were associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions and higher (blue) water consumption.

Insights from European prospective studies into cancer and diets – Netherlands (EPIC-NL) cohort

The LCA data was used in this study to identify differences in greenhouse gas emissions related to food production. The EPIC-NL study has monitored 40,000 Dutch individuals, recruited in the period from 1993 to 1997, for 20 years. The study focuses on differences in food consumption and the associated health effects. Greenhouse gas emissions have seen a 5% increase per 1,000 kcal(kilocalories) for men, but have remained unchanged for women. This has mainly been due to the increased consumption of crustaceans and fish, nuts and nut paste, seeds, poultry, and high-emission red meat such as beef. Greenhouse gas emissions related to the consumption of wholly vegetarian diets have increased slightly for both men and women. Finally: if diets are to become healthier and more sustainable, the consumption of animal food products will have to go down.

Greenhouse gas emissions related to various diets that meet the Dutch nutritional guidelines

The LCA data was used in this study to compare differences between the environmental impact of Dutch diets in the 2007–2010 period (Food Consumption Survey) and other possible diets. One of those possible diets was the one based on the Wheel of Five with the aim of reducing its the environmental impact. The greenhouse gas emissions related to these diets varied from -13% for men in the 31–50 age bracket to +5% for women in the 19–30 age bracket. Replacing meat and/or consuming low-emission food products reduces emissions by an average of 28%–48%. Eliminating meat from the diet altogether, or only eating low-emission food products, reduces emissions by approximately one third.
 

The LCA data was used in this study (external link) to identify sustainability differences between the diets of Dutch adults broken down by level of education. The study showed that there are no clear differences. The food categories with the highest greenhouse gas emissions were predominantly those of animal origin, such as meat, dairy, fish and eggs. Additionally, the greenhouse gas emission sources differed between the various education groups. Emissions associated with vegetables and fruit were on average 25% higher among highly educated people compared with people with a low level of education.