The impact that food production has on the planet is well-documented, with a recent study finding that our food systems are responsible for more than a third (34 per cent) of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
While the onus is primarily on large corporations and governments to help drive down this hefty carbon footprint, there are ways that we, as home cooks, can pull our weight too, tweaking the way we shop and cook.
It’s easier said than done, though. There isn’t one single formula for a sustainable diet and opinions vary hugely on what’s best for nature when it comes to what we eat. Should we cut out animal products entirely? Do we need to stick to solely organic produce? What about prioritising locality and avoiding single-use packaging? It’s unrealistic to tick all the boxes on every trip to the shops.
Happily, these books are all designed to simplify the idea of a sustainable diet, using understandable logic to serve up insightful knowledge, practical tips and colourful inspiration for going green in the kitchen.
How we tested
We’ve chosen them for their clarity, actionable ideas and, of course, great recipes and engaging writing. Some are focused on one specific sustainability principle – like eliminating waste or shifting towards more plant-based eating – while others promise more general ways we can tweak our cooking habits to give Mother Earth something to smile about.
The best sustainable cookbooks for 2023 are:
- Best overall – ‘One Pot, Pan, Planet’, by Anna Jones, published by Fourth Estate: £22.99, Wordery.com
- Best for sourcing ingredients – ‘Eating for Pleasure, People and Planet’, by Tom Hunt, published by Kyle Books: £21, Blackwells.co.uk
- Best vegan recipes – ‘Zaika’ by Romy Gill, published by Seven Dials: £14.73, Fishpond.co.uk
- Best for busy chefs – ‘Eat Green’ by Melissa Hemsley, published by Ebury Press: £12.99, Hive.co.uk
- Best for young chefs – ‘30 Easy Ways to Join the Food Revolution’ by Ollie Hunter, published by Pavilion Books: £14.99, Waterstones.com
- Best for reducing food packaging – ‘The Zero Waste Cookbook’ by Giovanna Torrico and Amelia Wasiliev, published by Hardie Grant: £16.99, Waterstones.com
- Best for recipes backed by science– ‘Eat to Save the Planet’ by Annie Bell, published by One Boat: £11.99, Wordery.com
- Best for fermenting at home – ‘Fermentation: River Cottage Handbook No. 18’ by Rachel de Thample, published by Bloomsbury Publishing: £8.99, Kobo.com
- Best for meat eaters – ‘Goat’ by James Whetlor, published by Quadrille (Kindle edition): £6.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for reducing food waste – 'Too Good to Waste’ by Victoria Glass, published by Nourish: £11.15, Hive.co.uk