Make sustainable food a part of daily life CONTENTS Introduction The food we eat each day is closely linked to Introduction 3 environmental issues like deforestation, overexploitation, gas emissions, ecological contamination from fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals, and overproduction and mass waste of food itself. Sustainable The problems with food today foods are those that are produced and finally consumed in a way that takes Production and processing 4 into account these kinds of issues. Transport, sales and consumption 5 We at Sony see these issues as affecting all people on Earth, and believe it is our duty to help solve them. This is why we've made promoting the use The actions we can take of environmentally conscious food one of our Green Management 2025 medium-term environmental targets. Shopping 6 8 Cooking For our society to truly be sustainable, we must always consider the 9 Eating connections food has with the environment. Choosing products with ecolabels 10

Going one step further Make sustainable food a part of daily life The growth of grow-your-own 12 Conserve biodiversity by eating 13 With that in mind, we have created this booklet as a guide to the actions The rise of -based meat 14 we can all take to eat more sustainably. Unlocking the potential of edible insects 15 Promoting "ugly" produce 16 Fighting food waste around the world 17

A day in the life of Sustainable Sam 18

The sustainable eating checklist 19

Click on the QR codes in this document, and you'll be directed to relevant websites. Through our Food for the Future project, we at Sony will help achieve Check out pages on topics you're interested in! Goals 2, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the SDGs. 2 3 From the oceans and fields to our tables, there are various ❶ The problems with food today environmental issues at each stage of the modern food system.

Production and processing Transport, sales and consumption

At the production stage, fisheries and sometimes focus on productivity and Tons of food is wasted at supermarkets and in homes, while 8.9% of the world’s efficiency rather than working with nature, which can contribute to climate change, population suffers from hunger [1]. A large amount of energy is thus wasted to create, loss of local biodiversity, and water and soil pollution. Another major issue is food loss, transport, sell and dispose of food that is never consumed. The energy used in which happens during the selection and processing of produce and other foods. long-distance transport is also a problem.

Fisheries Farming Transport Sales Consumption

Factors like overfishing and Improper use of fertilizers and According to FAO, 14.5% of CO2 emissions are produced Retailers have high standards Large amounts of food are the impact of water pollution other agrochemicals, human-induced greenhouse by the fuel used in trucks, for the appearance of actually wasted at on aquatic animal breeding conversion of forests to gas emissions come from ships and planes that produce, so large amounts of the retail and consumer significantly lower populations farmland, economically driven farming animals [2]. transport food, and are a imperfect items get thrown levels—in our homes, of fish and other marine life. development of farmland and Deforestation to create new major contributor to global away. This wastes all the supermarkets and restaurants. As of 2017, one third of global waterways, and large pastures greatly warming. For example, Japan energy that was used in their Each year, over 900 million marine stocks had been plantations in rainforests can affects global warming and imports much of its food. This production. Disposal of food tons, or 74 kg per capita, of overfished [1], and there is all negatively affect biodiversity. There is also creates 16.9 million tons of that is past its best-before food waste is generated concern that even fish like biodiversity. Agrochemicals in rising criticism of the large CO2 emissions each year, date is also a problem around around the world, of which blackfin tuna—popular in particular sometimes flow from amounts of grain and water which is 1.87 times the the world. In 2016, France 61% comes from households, sushi—are being driven to farmland into rivers and used to raise livestock in the amount generated by established a law prohibiting 26% from food service, and extinction. Chemicals used in oceans, causing water midst of water shortages and transporting food domestically supermarkets from doing this. 13% from retail [3]. can also affect pollution. food crises. [2]. ecosystems.

1. Source: FAO "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020" 1. Source: UN Food and Organization (FAO) 2. Source: Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020” "Topics: Environmental issues and food, agriculture and farming communities" (Japanese only) 2. Source: FAO "Tackling Climate Change Through Livestock" 3. Source: UN Environment Programme (UNEP) “Food Waste Index Report 2021” 4 5 Here are some tips on where to shop, what to buy, ❷ The actions we can take and how to cook and eat sustainably.

Shopping

Make Choose Choose a shopping list sustainable items sustainable seafood

A list can help you avoid impulse buys Ecolabels (see pp. 10-11) indicate if a Buy fish and other seafood that are listed and over-purchasing. Think about the food was grown or captured in an as "recommended" or "sustainable" in Plastic waste poses risks to meals you'll cook in the next few days, environmentally conscious way. Items your region's seafood guides based on marine environments around the then check which ingredients you already with a Rainforest Alliance certification species populations, fishing methods, world. As a company that uses have and memo down those you need to mark or other ecolabels and impact on ocean biodiversity. plastics in products and business buy. You can use a pen and paper, can be found at natural The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood operations, Sony takes this but don't forget that food stores, but are also Watch® program (US) urgent situation seriously. In your smartphone increasingly available at and the WWF's Sustainable comes with a handy your local supermarket. Seafood Guides (Europe, response, we have launched the note app perfect for Make it a point to look Asia) are good places to "One Blue Ocean Project" and making lists! for them when shopping. start. are taking action in three ways.

Consider Buy Say no food miles clearance food to plastic

When choosing an item, think about Buying discounted foods near their To help cut down on single-use plastic where it comes from. A food with high sell-by, best-before or use-by dates is not waste, try choosing items sold without miles (item weight × transport distance) only a money saver, but also helps reduce plastic packaging. Look for products in has higher transport-related CO2 food waste. You can now find this kind of glass bottles, paper cartons or metal cans, emissions, and a greater impact on the food using websites and smartphone or foods sold in bulk environment. Local produce grown apps, such as tabeloop (Japan) and or refills, and take outdoors will be fresh and have Flashfood (US). them home in a particularly low reusable shopping miles. bag.

6 7 ❷ The actions we can take

Cooking Eating

Use Cook away waste Finish your plate Eat out seasonal foods   sustainably

Fruits and vegetables grown outdoors There are plenty of ways to reduce waste If each person makes an effort to leave no When you open a menu, look for organic according to natural cycles result in fewer through cooking, like using vegetable or food behind on their plate, it would go a wines and salads, local and seasonal fish, CO2 emissions than those cultivated in seafood offcuts to create soup broth, long way in reducing food waste. At home, MSC or ASC-certified grilled seafood, and using fossil over-ripe fruits to make jam, and fat aim to cook only as much food as is fair-trade coffee. They're not only more fuels and electricity, and trimmed from meat as cooking oil. Eating needed. In restaurants, if there's a food sustainable, but are even said to be more vegetables with the you know you also taste great nutritious. Eating skin on also provides can't finish but and are good for seasonally also gives you extra nutrients while never take your body as a feeling for the richness reducing waste. home, just ask well. and cycles of nature. for less.

Save food for later Try a compost bin Don't forget Use reusable   the doggy bag bottles and straws

Put leftovers in a container and store them How about starting a compost bin in your Wrapping up leftovers at restaurants and Rather than waste resources with in the fridge or freezer for later. If you kitchen, backyard or on your balcony? taking them home also helps reduce food single-use plastic bottles, cups and don't have a lid, silicone covers and This reduces both waste and the smell of waste, but only if you actually eat them straws, make it a habit to carry reusable beeswax wraps are great reusable food garbage, and produces high-quality later! Eating items with you. You can use apps like alternatives to single-use plastic wrap. soil that can be leftovers the next mymizu (Japan) or Traditional preservation techniques like used to start day can also be a Tap (US) to search pickling, your own great way to save for places to refill fermentation and at money. your reusable water dehydration are home. bottle. also fun ways to save food.

8 9 ❷ The actions we can take

Ecolabels are given to products to signify that they have passed the strict standards of a Choosing products with ecolabels certification organization and are produced sustainably. Here, we introduce some widely used ecolabels that you can look for when you go shopping.

Fishery Rainforest Fairtrade RSPO GGN label International Organic labels certifications Alliance marks certification label Trademark

Certain labels are displayed The GGN label stands for The Rainforest Alliance is This label certifies that the This is an ecolabel from the These labels appear on on seafood products that certified farming and an international non-profit entire manufacturing Roundtable on Sustainable foods produced naturally, have been fished or farmed transparency. Safe and organization working to process, from production to Palm Oil (RSPO). with the principle of not in a way that adequately responsible farming create a better future for completion of the final The RSPO has developed using artificial chemicals conserves marine resources contributes to sustainable people and the product, is done according a set of environmental and like and and ecosystems. development for the good environment. to economic, social and social criteria which fertilizers. The Marine Stewardship of future generations and These marks show that environmental international companies must comply Each country or region Council (MSC) and our planet. a product is produced Fairtrade Standards. with to produce Certified has their own organic Aquaculture Stewardship An identification number using sustainable farming Assurances of the label Sustainable Palm Oil. When certification systems, and Council (ASC) are two with the label allows you to methods in a way that include fair wages, safe properly applied, these their own unique labels, examples of international trace your product back to conserves forests, working environments and criteria can help minimize such as the JAS mark in non-profit organizations that, its origins because promotes better livelihoods protection of human rights the negative impact of palm Japan. based on rigid standards, transparency is at the heart and human rights for for workers, and oil cultivation on the independently confirm if of the label. , and that is biodiversity conservation. environment and Reference: A global products are caught or adapted to and helps communities in palm directory of organic labels cultivated sustainably. mitigate the climate crisis. oil-producing regions. (Ecolabel Index)

MSC ASC

10 11 Take a look at some of the new movements in sustainable food ❸ Going one step further from around the world.

The growth of grow-your-own Conserve biodiversity by eating

Reaping the benefits of more time at home Helping balance ecosystems

As COVID-19 has changed our way of life and kept many of us at home more often, a When humans introduce an invasive species that rapidly changes an environment, it growing number of people have been getting into vegetable . destroys the balance of the local natural ecosystem. This is currently happening around the world, and is threatening many native species. As a result, biodiversity is at risk in Growing food at home vastly reduces food miles, and also helps conserve many regions. biodiversity. Since the emergence of German Kleingarten in the mid-19th century, community have become common around the world. Some people grow their What can be done to restore the environment for native species? One answer is to own "edible garden" at home, enjoying the flowers, greenery and fragrances of eat the invader. In the capital of Germany, for example, invasive American crayfish that vegetables, fruits and herbs. More communities are also starting Incredible Edible live in rivers and lakes are now captured and sold as "Berlin lobster." In the country of projects, where volunteers work together to grow vegetables in public spaces. Belize, fast-breeding lionfish are caught and eaten, or used to make accessories.

There are also innovative products being developed around the world to meet Even native species can disrupt the balance of an ecosystem if they reproduce too modern needs. For instance, there is the compost-in-a-bag LFC Gardening Set from fast. Deer are exemplary of this, so the meat from animals that are culled for population Japan, which comes with seeds you can plant in the finished compost. Why not try control often gets turned into delicious foods. something new at home by starting your own garden? Using these types of animals as food helps control their populations while putting money in hunters' pockets and feeding people at the same time. So the act of eating  Sony Synecoculture ™ can be beneficial to both the natural environment and humans.

A new farming method to produce food while fostering rich ecosystems Developed by Sony Computer Science Laboratories researcher Masatoshi Funabashi, Synecoculture is a farming method that fosters a fertile ecosystem while producing beneficial by growing a wide variety of species close together without plowing or using fertilizers and other chemicals. Synecoculture has been trialed in the Sahel region of Africa since 2015, and has successfully created a rich ecosystem on desertified land. There are also kits available to teach the principles of Synecoculture using gardens or planters.

12 13 ❸ Going one step further

The rise of plant-based meat Unlocking the potential of edible insects

Looks and tastes like the real thing! A front-runner for future protein source

Global meat consumption has more than quadrupled in the past 50 years [1], creating Insects don't require much food to grow, and their growth process generates few concerns about things like greenhouse gases from cow burps, the environmental impact greenhouse gases. What's more, they're a rich source of protein and other nutrients. This of livestock excrement, and massive consumption of feed and water. For example, makes them a potential source of protein to support our growing world population, which raising cows requires enormous resources, so much in fact that it takes 11 kg of grain [2] is forecast to reach nine billion by 2030. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and 15,000 L of water [3] to produce just 1 kg of beef. (FAO) has proposed edible insects as one solution to food supply challenges.* Reducing animal meat consumption is quickly gaining traction as a way to help solve issues related to food supply and the environment. Plant-based meat made from soy or People in many regions have always eaten insects, and around two million people other plants are becoming popular worldwide in place of beef, pork, chicken and fish. In consume more than 1,900 different types globally. In 2018, the EU unified its regulations the US, Beyond Meat® and Impossible Foods are two big producers of plant-based on edible insects, making them legal in all member countries. In the US, cricket-based meat, which are now available at fast food chains. To appeal to meat lovers, they protein bars are becoming popular, while in Japan, lifestyle brand Muji surprised faithfully reproduce the texture of animal meat, and can sometimes be found at everyone with the launch of crackers that are also made from powdered crickets. supermarkets. There's even a 100% plant-based canned tuna made and marketed by a US-based company. Many people are hesitant to try insects whole, but they'll likely become a more familiar There has also been progress in developing meat from artificially cultured animal ingredient in the future. cells, and it probably won't be long till we see cultured meat in stores.

1. Source: FAOSTAT Website (2020) *Source: FAO "Edible insects: future prospects for food and feed security" 2. Source: Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries "Did you know? The State of Food in Japan" (October 2015) (Japanese only) 3. Source: UNESCO "Good water, water to 'eat'. What is virtual water?"

Meat Free Monday UK campaign encouraging people to reduce meat and dairy

Launched by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney in 2009, Meat Free Monday is a not-for-profit campaign which aims to raise awareness of the detrimental environmental impact of animal agriculture and industrial fishing. The campaign encourages people to help slow climate change, conserve precious natural resources and improve their health by having at least one plant-based day each week.

14 15 ❸ Going one step further

Promoting "ugly" produce Fighting food waste around the world

More people are now prioritizing flavor Groundbreaking ideas that are gaining steam

They could be too big, too small, too curved, a bit damaged, or a bit discolored. Throughout the world, households, restaurants and retailers throw away enormous These are some of the reasons many perfectly good fruits and vegetables get deemed amounts of food. This results in over nine billion tons* of uneaten food being disposed of "non-aesthetically standard" and disposed of before they even reach retailers. As much each year. There are many different initiatives worldwide that are now trying to do as 40% of a harvest can be lost this way. Some are pre-cut and sold or used in something about it. processed foods, but most are simply thrown away. Food banks are one that works to tackle both food waste and issues of poverty and To solve this problem, there are many initiatives in place worldwide. The US’s hunger. All over the world, non-profit organizations and local governments collect edible Imperfect Foods is a grocery delivery service that offers different-looking foods at a food that, for various reasons, would otherwise be thrown away by companies and discount. In Japan, online service única is focused on purchasing non-aesthetically individuals, and deliver it through food banks to facilities or people in need. standard produce directly from farmers for delivery to consumer, while a leading A growing number of organizations have begun using websites and apps to French supermarket chain also encourages the consumption of ugly produce. 's redistribute surplus food. For example, the Too Good to Go app provides a way for markets are also popular places to buy imperfect produce. cafés, supermarkets and bakeries to sell their perfectly good, surplus food to consumers Yet producers alone can’t solve this problem—changing the awareness of each day at a discount, and is available in 14 European countries and the US. In the consumers and retailers is vital. If more people would realize that taste matters more Netherlands, there is also Instock, a unique restaurant that buys and cooks still-edible than looks, it would become easier for non-standard produce to make its way into food slated for disposal. Yet even groundbreaking ideas can’t succeed without stores. Why not help promote change by buying ugly produce? individual participation. If any of these sound interesting to you, why not give them a try?

*Source: FAO "Global Food Losses and Food Waste" Examples of services Imperfect Foods  Too Good An app providing a way for retailers to sell surplus food to To Go consumers at a discount. Available in 14 European countries US online grocer building a kinder, less wasteful food system and the US.

Imperfect Foods is the leading online grocer working directly with farmers and Karma An app for buying delicious, unsold food at a discount from producers to rescue and redistribute goods across multiple grocery categories, your favorite cafes, restaurants and supermarkets, primarily including produce, shelf-stable items, dairy, meat, seafood and its in Europe. own private label offerings to eliminate unnecessary food waste. Committed to and waste elimination, in 2020 alone, Uglyfood A Singaporean company that aims to educate on food loss Imperfect Foods was able to save 50 million pounds of food. while selling non-standard grocery items at a discount.

16 17 A day in the life of Sustainable Sam Sustainable eating checklist

Here's a summary of the sustainable food actions introduced in this booklet. What does a day in the life of a sustainable eater look like? Make a checkmark next to the ones that apply to your eating habits, then count Let's take a look at Sam's daily routine. the number of marks to see how sustainably you eat!

Sustainable eating level 6:00 Wake up, I use vegetables and herbs from my 0 ～ 9 Sustainable eating beginner breakfast kitchen/balcony gardens, so breakfast is very Why not go back and pick some things you'd like to try? nearly food mile-free! 7:30 Tend to 10 ～ 18 Sustainable eating specialist the compost Good job! Now challenge yourself with something new! & water the plants Yesterday's food scraps get tossed in the 19 ～ 26 You're a sustainable eating master! compost bin on the balcony. I also never forget to Introduce the concept to someone you know! add water the plants nearby!

Let's go! Activity Action I stay hydrated at the office with my reusable □ Make a shopping list P.6 water bottle. I also carry a travel mug perfect for □ Choose fish recommended by a seafood guide P.6 grabbing coffee to go. □ Buy products with low food miles P.6 □ Buy items in bulk P.6 9:00 Arrive at the office Time to start work! □ Buy clearance foods P.7 For lunch, I bring a packed meal from home. On □ Carry a reusable cloth bag P.7 busy days, lunch is often leftovers from the day Shopping □ Buy products in paper, glass or metal instead of plastic P.7 before, but eating outside on a sunny day makes 12:00 Lunch □ Buy products that have ecolabels P.10 them taste extra delicious! □ Buy foods that support biodiversity (like wild venison) P.13 □ Buy plant-based meat P.14 □ Buy products made with edible insects P.15 At cafes, I ask to have coffee put in my travel □ Buy "ugly" produce at farmer’s markets P.16 mug. Some shops offer discounts when you □ Sign up for an app or website that helps reduce food waste P.17 bring your own! 15:00 Meeting at a cafe □ Use foods that are in season P.8 □ Cook in a way that minimizes waste P.8 Armed with a shopping list written the night Cooking □ Store extras for later P.8 17:30 □ Compost food scraps P.8 Done for the day! before, I look for foods that have ecolabels or are □ Cover containers with reusable lids or wrap P.8 organic, produce grown locally, and clearance 18:00 Shopping items. Today I've also picked up plant-based □ Leave nothing behind P.9 □ Choose sustainable food and drink when eating out P.9 hamburgers. Eating □ Bring leftovers home P.9 19:00 Get take-out □ Carry a reusable bottle and straw P.9 □ Participate in Meat Free Monday P.14 I sometimes get extra take-out for dinner from my 19:30 Eat dinner favorite cafe. They let me bring my own □ Start a vegetable garden at home P.12 Others □ Join an Incredible Edible project P.12 containers, which helps cut down on trash. □ Try out Synecoculture P.12 22:00 Bedtime 18 19 A few final words

How do you feel about sustainable food after reading this booklet?

The more you learn about environmental issues, the more you may start to think, "If we don't take action right now, the future looks bleak." Yet there's nothing wrong with starting small, so why not try incorporating a few of these tips and ideas into the way you eat?

Even small individual actions can combine into a greater force that changes the world. We hope this booklet has given you the inspiration to eat more sustainably, starting with whatever you're able to or would like to do.

“Sony” used in this booklet refers to the Sony Group. Unauthorized reproduction of the text, images and illustrations in this booklet is prohibited.

Published April 2021 Environment Section, Sustainability Department, Sony Group Corporation