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SMALL changes in your diet for a BIG healthy and sustainable impact

On 13 April a social media campaign was launched to increase awareness and offer practical solutions to some of the pressing issues around healthy, sustainable and just food systems and dietary patterns.

This sustainable literacy campaign is an initiative of Dr Claire Copperstone from the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences and Prof. Suzanne Piscopo from the Department of Health, Physical Education and Consumer Studies, Faculty of Education.

The idea spurred from the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission report which provides the scientific evidence and vision for transitioning into sustainable food systems. Whilst ensuring minimum negative impact for the planet, sustainable food systems considers  i) sustainable food production methods, ii) healthier consumption, iii) food loss reduction and iv) food justice.

A major output of the EAT-Lancet report is the updated Planetary Health Diet. This offers dietary guidelines that are flexible across food cultures and dietary preferences and which take into consideration human health and the links between diet, climate change and planetary resource use. The Planetary Health Die underlines the goal of fair and just food systems.

The UM campaign will address various aspects of the Planetary Health Diet with the goal of encouraging the UM community to reflect on their own food consumption and take action in their different personal and work settings to improve their own and the planet’s wellbeing. Topics covered will include, amongst others, the choice and increased consumption of plant proteins, reading food labels, zero food waste actions, and transitioning to a healthier, sustainable diet with affordability in mind. The multiple-topic campaign is planned to be rolled out over 2026 and 2027.

This campaign aligns with the larger vision of the UM’s Strategy promoting sustainability on campus and the role of Sustainability Champions in raising awareness and facilitating understanding for small individual or collective behaviour changes with a large impact. The main running message across all the campaign is: Make SMALL changes in your diet for a BIG healthy and sustainable impact!

Reference:  Rockström, J., Thilsted, S. H., Willett, W. C., et al. (2025). The EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy, sustainable, and just food systems. The Lancet, 406(10512), 1625-1700.