There are opportunities for a nutrition policy that contributes both to public health and the environment. Existing measures from the National Prevention Agreement (NPA) and the new Coherent Prevention Strategy (SPS) may also have benefits for the environment. RIVM has reached this conclusion based on a research study. To enhance the impact, more binding measures are required. These could include higher prices for foods with unfavourable Nutri-Scores, or mandatory regulatory frameworks to make the food that is available in key nutrition settings, such as schools, healthier and more sustainable.
This is the first study that, in addition to focusing on the impact of the NPA, also studied the potential environmental effects of the measures in the Integrated Prevention Strategy and how those effects may be strengthened. Double benefits - for human health and the environment - are already possible. One crucial precondition, however, is that the measures are properly implemented and adopted. The environmental benefits can then be further enhanced through policy adjustments. This calls for a robust package of supplementary measures.
Enhancing existing measures to achieve environmental benefits
By enhancing and supplementing current public health measures, we can increase their impact on environmental benefits. RIVM’s recommendations to achieve that include the following:
- A strong focus on avoiding overconsumption of food with a high environmental impact, such as food of animal origin (e.g. meat and cheese) and unhealthy foods like crisps or biscuits.
- A strong focus on drinking tap water, coffee or tea, rather than on replacing sugary drinks with sugar-free alternatives.
- A focus on reducing alcohol consumption overall, while avoiding a focus on alcohol-free drinks such as 0.0% beer.
- A strong emphasis on promoting organic foods and increasing the proportion of organic food available, for example in supermarkets.
- Measures targeting food composition to achieve a healthier and more sustainable food offer. For example, criteria to improve the nutritional profile of meat and dairy substitutes within the National Approach to Product Improvement (NAPV). This approach motivates producers to gradually make their products healthier.
Solid package of measures
The existing measures from the NPA and the SPS, as well as the further measures mentioned above, are promising. However, their success depends on proper implementation and follow-up. To maximise the impact of nutrition policy on both the environment and public health, we need a robust package of measures that are more binding than those in the current agreements. In addition to the measures mentioned above, these could include a food pricing strategy that also reflects the costs of environmental damage, or restrictions on the advertising and marketing of unhealthy and environmentally harmful foods. Previous research has shown that such measures are necessary to achieve the NPA ambitions surrounding overweight and problematic alcohol consumption, and to reduce the negative environmental impacts of food consumption.