Half of people in one age group have already ditched meat for the environment

It is well known that reducing meat consumption is better for the environment – but some age groups are doing better than others when it comes to acting upon this.

A new survey has revealed that half of 16 to 24 year olds in the UK have committed to a vegetarian way of eating with sustainability in mind.

This is contrast to those above the age of 55 – with just two in ten of the older generations having forgone meat on their plates.

The poll of 2,000 people also revealed which areas of the country are home to most adopters of a plant-based diet.

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According to the research, commissioned by meal plan company KBK, the region with the fewest meat eaters, at 40 per cent, is Greater London.

However, the areas consuming the most – at three-quarters of residents – are the South West and Scotland.

The findings also showed that half of those surveyed noted that sustainability had become a more important issue to them in the past year.

However, food wastage – which is very harmful to the environment – remains high nationwide.

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The survey showed that 50 per cent of Britons are guilty of throwing away fresh groceries, with fruit and vegetables making up 80 per cent of the produce thrown in the bin.

Experts agree that tweaking your eating habits is one of the most helpful things you can do to counteract climate change.

Dr Shireen Kassam, environmentalist and founder of Plant Based Health Professionals UK, previously told Yahoo UK that meat and dairy production uses 83% of farmland and produces 60% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, she noted that reducing food waste will help conserve energy and resources used on growing crops, manufacturing, transportation and selling.

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