Food to Footprint: By 2050, More Plastic Than Fish in the Oceans?

Not so long ago we celebrated World Ocean Day and persuaded each other to go low waste in our lives. All for our beloved lifeline that is water. But are we aware of what's happening in our oceans right now?

Water is Life: But what about Life in Water?

Huge weighted nets (the size ofmultiple football fields) are being dragged along the seafloor ripping out corals and destroying habitats.

A study found that Discarded fishing gear makes up to 70% of large plastic floating in the ocean by weight. All of this is happening because of one industry, the Fishing Industry!

Fish play a vital role in sustaining the ocean's ecosystem. The reality is that fish are being killed in alarming numbers today more than ever. This is already heading us to a serious climate emergency. The global fishing industry kills up to 2.7 trillion wild fish every year – This doesn't even include billions of farmed fish still surpasses the figure of all other animals killed for food combined per year.

As the floating fishing gear continues to pollute the marine ecosystem, it's time for us to be the change we want to see in the world!?

So how do we protect them? The answer is simple. By not eating aquatic animals!

Save 55% Water by Going Plant-Based

According to a 2016 study published in the journal Water Resources Research, it was found that switching to a plant-based diet can reduce your water footprint by about 55%.?

This study reflects the significant individual impact of saving water through food. But how?

Less is More

The production of plant-based foods requires less land, fewer resources, and produces vastly fewer greenhouse gas emissions.?

For example- According to Oxford University’s lead researcher Joseph Poore, "A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on earth. It is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car." Even if you want meat, if you opt for cell-based meat, you are using 99% less resources.

Save Water by Saving Lives!

Animal agriculture is one of the major drivers of water pollution. So, if you're still wondering, the single best thing you could do every single day to protect water, is to simply not eat animals.

For example- Almost 70% of all freshwater used by humans goes to animal farming. The production of just 1 kg of beef requires an average of 15000 litres of water.

Ditch Leather Save Water!

Water water everywhere, not a drop to drink? Because all the drinkable water is used to make leather. And rest is left polluted with a cocktail of highly toxic chemicals like Chromium sulphate.

For example- 1 leather hide alone has a water footprint of 1,00,000+ litres. In this way, Fashion accounts for approx. 20% of all Industrial Water Pollution.?

The Bottom Line?

When people say save water, we often reduce it down to taking shorter showers and fixing leaks. Although, it's a great step to begin with but unfortunately, this might just not be enough anymore! For now, we know that it's not about the food chain anymore.?

Citing a crazy contrast, Sharks kill 12 people a year, but humans kill 11,000 sharks per hour. This is why we need to take action immediately. It's time to go green beyond the reasons of health! It's time to save water through a plant-based diet.

Worried about your taste buds? We got you! Here is a list of brands that offer delectable Plant-based alternatives to Seafood products in India:

• Prot
• Mister Veg Foods Pvt Ltd
• Veggie Champ
• The Mighty Kitchen
• Revo Foods

The Good Food Institute The Good Food Institute India Multus Eat Just, Inc. Mosa Meat Believer Meats BioBetter? Generation Vegan Brian Kateman Kai Yi Carrie Chan Sandhya Sriram, PhD Shiok Meats Pavitra Krishna Kumar, Ph.D. James Ryall Elliot Swartz Novel Farms, Inc. Jess Krieger, PhD Plant Based News Ryan Grant Little Andrew Noyes Joshua March Sunita Narain Disha Ravi Vogue Sumaira Abdulali People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Vegan Outreach Generation Vegan VegNews Vegan-Friendly