Flexitarian (noun) - a person who has a primarily vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish.

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Vegetarian, Pescetarian, Vegan and now? Say hello to Flexitarianism. 

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For a long time, it has felt like a sustainable diet has to be all or nothing but Flexitarianism has opened up a new avenue for those of use who care about the environment and are aware of the environmental impacts of our diets, but cannot go fully vegan or vegetarian for whatever reason. It is centred around adaptability, acknowledgment and trying our best to make a difference in a way that is suitable and sustainable for us - everything we stand for at Tabitha Eve.

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Flexitarianism is: 'I acknowledge the impact of meat on the environment, I know my diet is not perfectly sustainable, but at least I'm doing what I can to make a difference.'

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We are now beginning to understand the impact of the meat industry on the environment, but just how bad is it really?

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It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat but only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat. 

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Producing just one hamburger uses enough fossil fuel to drive a small car 20 miles. 

Of all raw materials and fossil fuels used in the U.S., more than one-third are devoted to raising animals for food.

 

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Why choose Flexitarianism? 

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Research suggests that by limiting your red meat intake to once a week and limiting your poultry, dairy, eggs and fish intake could cut global greenhouse emissions by 50%

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According to the BBC, if every family in the UK swapped one of their red meat-based meals per week to plant-based, it would have the equivalent environmental impact of taking 16 million cars off the road. 

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Flexitarianism boasts an idea of inclusive, adaptable and imperfect sustainability so it's no wonder it has become so popular, with many of us now embracing it.

However, the idea of flexitarianism has received a backlash amongst the environmentalist community. Whether you agree or not, it does raise some interesting arguments...and I'd be lying if I said I didn't see the logic within them, especially as a vegan myself. I do question how people can be aware of the devastating ethical and environmental impact of meat and still choose to consume it. But, I don't think I agree that anything other than veganism demonstrates a complete disregard for the environment. 

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I think this way of thinking is dangerous because it puts people off from even trying to make a difference. When we tell people they have to be perfect (perfectly sustainable, perfectly plastic-free) they'll feel like their choices and efforts will never truly be good enough so won't even bother trying - and that is the kind of sustainability we just don't need.

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When we tell people they have to be perfect, they'll feel like their choices and efforts will never truly be good enough so won't even bother trying - and that is the kind of sustainability we just don't need.

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It's important to remember that not everyone is able to go vegan or vegetarian, at least not fully. Some people might want to make their diet more sustainable but already have strict dietary requirements, allergies or intolerances and they simply wouldn't be able to restrict their diet even further.  Some people live with people or have family members who have certain diets and the thought of having to cook 3 separate meals a night might put them off pursuing their own plant-based diet. So, flexitarianism offers a solution to them.

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It's important to remember that not everyone is able to go vegan or vegetarian, at least not fully.

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Even within our team as a sustainable business, we have people with diets varying from vegan, flexitarian to 'normal' diets. But we all agree it is better to make whatever change you can, rather than doing nothing at all.

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Ultimately, the act of enforcing perfectionism or gatekeeping whether or not certain choices are sustainable, when it comes to a flexitarian diet, will never insight change amongst the masses.

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If you're interested in a more sustainable lifestyle, why not have a browse of our eco-friendly, zero-waste, reusable lifestyle and home products?

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