challenge #1: food

Dear participants,

Congratulations on taking the first step! You’re beginning to discover how your everyday choices can have a positive impact on the environment.

During this month of November, we invite you to explore how your daily habits can make a difference. Each week, a new theme, small challenges to complete, and workshops will guide you toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

To start, we focus on a topic that concerns us all: food and nutrition.

🌱 Why does food impact the climate?

In Switzerland, the way we eat accounts for approximately 28% of the environmental footprint of its residents.

Among the main sources of emissions are the production of meat and dairy products, which were responsible for 14.6% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.

Food waste is also a major issue: about 25% of the environmental impact of food in Switzerland comes from avoidable food losses.

By reducing consumption of animal products, prioritizing local and seasonal produce, and minimizing food waste, everyone can help lower their carbon footprint and protect the environment.

Without further ado, let’s move on to this week’s challenges! You can take on one, two, or even all three!

Challenge #1: Eat More Plant-Based 🥦

What if you tried a vegetarian or vegan day this week?

Goal: Dedicate one full day without meat or animal products.

Concrete actions:

  • Plan your three meals in advance and get inspiration from the City of Geneva’s recipe collection.
  • Eating out? Try a vegetarian or vegan restaurant for one of your meals 
  • Discover new plant-based alternatives to replace meat, cheese, or eggs.

💡 Tip: Use the ecobalance sheet to assess and improve your eating habits.

Challenge #2: Buy local, seasonal, and reduce packaging 🥕

Stock up on great products while reducing your impact!
 This week, take the opportunity to change your habits and discover new places: markets, farms, local shops, or online platforms. Fewer kilometers traveled, fresher food on your plate, and a real boost to the local economy.

Goal: Prioritize organic, local, seasonal, and unpackaged products.

Concrete actions:

  • Do your shopping at a local market, neighborhood grocery, or via online baskets this week.
  • Choose Swiss seasonal fruits and vegetables: tastier and lower in carbon footprint!
  • Prefer products labeled GRTA (Genève Région – Terre Avenir), a guarantee of local origin and responsible production.  Check the Genève Terroir map

💡 Tip: Find seasonal fruits and vegetables:

Challenge #3: Zero Waste at Home 🍲

In Switzerland, one-third of produced food ends up in the trash. Yet, with a little organization, food waste can be easily reduced.

Goal: Adopt the right habits to minimize food waste at home.

Concrete actions:

  • Plan your weekly menu to buy just what you need.
  • Cook with leftovers: soups, gratins, compotes, or smoothies.
  • Turn peels into broth or homemade chips.
  • Store food properly: freeze what won’t be eaten and check expiration dates.
  • For fruits, vegetables, and groceries in general, use cloth bags, reusable nets, or glass jars to avoid disposable packaging.

💡 Bonus tip: Find even more ideas and practical resources to tackle this challenge on the City of Geneva website:

🌍 Événements & initiatives locales

Discover local actions to extend the Carbon Challenge:

Swiss Food Academy : For the little ones, awareness campaign on food beliefs and workshops for children on world cultures.

→ Around the World on My Plate – 19 November
→ Operation Polar Rolls – 17 December

Geneve Cultive : at Les Automnales (7–16 November) as part of the Green City Forum: immersive gardens, conferences and exhibitions on urban biodiversity.

Ma-Terre is hosting the conference L’alimentation de demain at the Maison de l’Avenir: an inspiring meeting on concrete solutions for more sustainable food.

📆 27 November, at 6 p.m. 
📍 Maison de l’Avenir c/o Impact Hub Geneva
👉 Registration

Free-Go : Three new shared fridges in Lancy and Carouge, and a Free-Go Nomade that raises awareness about food waste in schools, businesses and events.
👉 Find out more

“From Plate to Ocean” : A documentary on the link between food and the environment.

📆 18 November – 6 p.m.
📍 Bibliothèque des Pâquis, Geneva
👉 Information and registration

Further readings

🌍 Together, let’s change our habits one bite at a time.

By adapting our daily choices, we can all play our part in making our food more sustainable.

📦 Next topic: consumer goods and how their impact can be reduced.

Défis Energie