Earth Day, the largest civic observance in the world, was recently celebrated on 22 April. The organization Earth Day Network was established with the mission to educate the world about the environment. The first Earth Day was observed in 1970, and since then it has grown to include over 75,000 partners in 191 countries all working toward building environmental democracy.
Caring about the environment isn’t just about picking up litter on the side of the road, or recycling. Many dedicated chefs around the world are taking the lead in setting an example on how to be sustainable and how to be custodians of the environment. The way we eat; how our food is cooked, farmed, and caught; how we dispose of waste; and how we decide on what is waste all have huge implications on the environment. After all, food waste is said to contribute equally, if not more, to CO2 emissions than cars.
There is a growing breed of chefs who devote their careers to sourcing locally, supporting – and even owning – local farms, teaching kids about farming, and more. To keep the Earth Day spirit alive, here are five chefs who champion environmental and sustainable causes in their own unique ways.
