There are opportunities for food policy that contribute to both public health and the environment. Current measures from the National Prevention Agreement (NPA) and the new Coherent Prevention Strategy (SPS) can potentially also have a positive impact on the environment. This is the conclusion of RIVM after research. However, to increase the impact, less voluntary measures are needed. Think of higher prices for food products with an unfavorable Nutri-Score, or mandatory legislative frameworks to make the food supply in important food environments such as schools healthier and more sustainable. 

This research, besides the impact of the NPA, also for the first time investigated the potential impact of the measures in the Coherent Prevention Strategy (external link) on the environment and how this impact can be increased. Double gain (for health and environment) is already possible. An important condition is that measures are well implemented and followed up. Environmental gain can be further strengthened through adjustments. For this, a strong package with additional measures is necessary. 

Strengthening existing measures for environmental gain

Strengthening and additions to the existing measures aimed at public health can increase the impact on environmental gain. RIVM recommends among others: 

  • Strong focus on not overeating (overconsumption) of food products with high environmental impact, such as animal-based foods (like meat and cheese), and unhealthy products like chips or cookies.
  • Strong focus on drinking tap water, coffee or tea. Not on replacing sugary drinks with sugar-free variants.
  • Focus on less alcohol consumption in general and avoid focus on alcohol-free drinks, such as 0.0 beer.
  • Strong focus on choosing organic products and a larger share of organic food supply in supermarkets, for example.
  • Implement measures aimed at food composition to achieve a healthier and more sustainable food supply. For example, criteria to stimulate that meat and dairy substitutes get a healthier composition within the National Approach Product Improvement (NAPV). This approach encourages manufacturers step by step to make their products healthier. 

Strong package of measures

The current measures from the NPA and SPS and the above-mentioned additions are promising but depend on implementation and follow-up. To increase the impact of food policy on the environment and public health, a strong package of less voluntary measures than in the current agreements is needed. In addition to the aforementioned measures, pricing products where the costs of environmental damage are taken into account can also be considered. Also think of restrictions on advertising and marketing of unhealthy and environmentally harmful products. Earlier research already showed that this is necessary to achieve the NPA ambitions around overweight and problematic alcohol use. This publication shows that this is also necessary to reduce the environmental impact of food consumption.