Should the BDA declare a climate crisis?
Our Strategic Plan 2024-2034 includes some important commitments on planetary health.
This Sustainable September, we are asking if you want the BDA to declare a climate emergency, with some additional questions on climate change and health, the skills needed to tackle climate change - and your priorities for the BDA on this topic.
We need to hear from you – our members – to help our Board, staff and specialist groups prioritise our resources on this issue.
Members, log in to access the survey.
This September, we’re sharing all of the brilliant projects and activities undertaken by the association and our members which promote sustainability.
Each week will have a different focus, from sharing inspiring projects, offering extra learning and reading from our specialist groups and partners, as well as offering ideas for actions you might want to undertake.
Having a positive impact on human and planetary health is a golden thread in the new BDA Strategic Plan for 2024-2027, which makes this year’s Sustainable September especially important as we kick off the new workplan.
We have committed to several actions relating to sustainability and by 2027, for example, we will have asked what help and support you need to deliver services that reduce the impact of dietary advice on the climate, and will have some factsheets and other tools to support this.
We are also committed to measuring the climate impact of individual BDA membership and making changes regarding hard copy communications, use of plastic etc. in membership materials.
We’d love everyone’s support in sharing their sustainable projects across the month using #BDASustainableSeptember on social media. Watch this space as we share more in the coming weeks.
Inspiration Week
Do you have a project to share that will inspire members? Let us know by emailing [email protected]
BDA projects to inspire
A healthier and more sustainable shopping basket with ALDI
We developed a model shopping basket for ALDI in 2020 to illustrate the themes of healthy and environmentally sustainable food choices. This year we've expanded the basket to support the variety of dietary patterns consumed by ethnic groups living in the UK.
Food waste is a huge concern. The BDA’s Let’s Get Cooking programme provides expert advice on waste reduction through its education programmes. The programme recently received additional funding to continue their work across Merseyside, running food waste reduction and cookery skills programmes. Find out more here.
Reading Week
Have you got something you'd like to share with other members? Let us know by emailing [email protected]
For your reading list...
Sustainable Food Systems and Dietary Patterns in Nutrition and Dietetic Practice was published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the end of 2023. The special issue was led by editors Dr Liesel Carlsson, Dr Kalliopi-Anna Poulia and BDA member Angela Madden. It includes papers from across the world including from Dr Clare Pettinger on collaborative leadership to promote sustainability for dietetic practice. Go take a look!
The September issue of Dietetics Today, your membership magazine, features a new column from the BDA's Sustainable Diets Specialist Group. Access it online here.
Check out this reading list from the BDA Sustainable Diets Specialist Group.
Background reading
- Eat well, spend less: Food Fact Sheet
- Vegetarian, vegan and plant-based diet: Food Fact Sheet
- Sustainable Diet: Food Fact Sheet
- Batch cooking and freezing food
- Meal swaps: Making our favourite meals more sustainable
- Nutritional considerations for dietitians
- Smart supermarket shopping
- Seasonal fruit and veg – A handy guide
Learning Week
Watch this space for webinars and extra learning related to sustainability in dietetics! Are we missing something? Let us know [email protected]
Events to join
Member projects we can learn from...
BDA members Faith Toogood and Sarah Brook and have been shortlisted for the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) Greener AHP Award 2024. Here we look at their initiatives and how green schemes are helping the NHS care for patients in a more sustainable way.
Dietitians at Mildmay Mission Hospital trialled and implemented a complete low-carbon emission menu. They used low-carbon emission recipes sourced from an NHS England recipe and menu bank, which met the nutritional requirements of their vulnerable patient population. Find out about their project here.
Member Tanya Haffner provides talks and workshops to dietetic departments, Trusts and ICBs on various topics related to sustainability and nutrition. Her aim is that sustainability will no longer be seen as a niche topic, but part of everyday life and living. Tanya will be at the Labour Conference flying the flag for this message with the government.
Gizem Acar has explored sustainable nutrition and novel food technologies, including cultivated meat as part of her PhD research on transforming UK food systems. She has been busy providing lectures and seminars to undergraduates and Masters students on the topic.
Louise Kirkham is taking part in a fellowship in sustainability with the Centre or Sustainable Healthcare. Her project is focused on streamlining the prescribing process, from acute to community through training and standardising prescriptions for dietitians. Through this, Louise is aiming to reduce waste and the financial and environmental impact of nutritional supplements in the community.
Action Week
What actions are you taking to be more sustainable? Let us know [email protected] and we’ll share them this week.
What is the BDA doing?
Having a positive impact on human and planetary health is a golden thread in the 10-year vision of the BDA. Take a look at our commitments here.
As part of our manifesto, we are urging the government to develop a comprehensive, UK-wide food strategy, which prioritises health, environmental sustainability and accessibility. Find out more.