People in Germany have been given a slap on their wrists by the country’s Federal Environmental Agency for becoming a “burden” on the environment.
Its report discloses that daily habits in Germany are demanding too much.
Germans' demand for meat and non-seasonal produce are the two factors impacting hardest on the environment and climate, according to the report.
"We will only reach our climate protection goals if we think about our consumption behaviours," said the agency’s president Maria Krautzberger.
"This also extends to the habits we've grown fond of: the production of animal products, especially of meat, is putting a strain on the environment to a high degree through the use of resources and land, but also through nitrate pollution in the soil and water and greenhouse gas emissions."
Consumption of meat in Germany has dipped to 2.6 million tonnes in 2013, but exports of meat have increased to 3 million tonnes. The 5.6 million total is far greater than that of 3.6 million in 2000.
The need for more crops to feed animals can result in deforestation in developing countries which limits the earth’s ability to absorb greenhouse gases.
German households were also chastised for chucking out too much food, according to the report. Some 6.7 million tonnes are thrown out each year.
Food items which require air miles also affect the environment due to the energy required and emissions resulting from transport.
One aspect of German life which is exacerbating the problem is the growing number of people there who are living on their own.
About 40% of households are just one person. This drives up energy demand for heating, lighting, cars, washing machines, refrigerators and the like.
"For each food product, we need arable land and water resources, domestically and abroad, we consume energy through production and transport and the applicable fertilizers and pesticides, which harm the environment," Krautzberger said.
"Avoiding waste from groceries is therefore an important contribution towards the preservation of our livelihood."
