The versatility of pulses: Are consumption and consumer perception in different European countries related to the actual climate impact of different pulse types?

Pulses support sustainable production and consumption. Their culinary versatility creates a wide range of pos-sibilities for new products, bridging consumers' preparation barriers. However, this potential is often intangible for consumers who have little knowledge about plant-based foods. Based on an online survey in Denmark, Ger-many, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom ( N = 4,226), this study aimed to investigate consumer utilization and perception of pulses as a versatile, low-carbon food relative to objective life cycle assessment (LCA) mea-sures of 12 pulse types. The most popular pulse types, with specific preferences across countries, were lentils, kidney beans, and chickpeas, typically consumed at home and purchased in dried or canned form. Respondents associated pulses with being healthy and natural, but sustainability was not an essential attribute related to the perception of pulses. LCA revealed a low environmental impact caused by pulse production and consumption, with marginal variations between types and produce. Respondents were unaware of the nuances in the environ-mental impact of different pulse types, generally perceiving uncommon pulses to be relatively more sustainable than others. In conclusion, a low consumption combined with a misconception of pulses' environmental impact may demand different promotional strategies including clear communication to inform consumers.

Automated summary

Pulses have the potential for sustainable production and consumption, but consumers have limited knowledge about plant-based foods. A survey shows that people generally associate pulses with health and naturalness, but do not prioritize sustainability. Results also indicate that there are minimal differences in the environmental impact of different pulse types, a fact that consumers are unaware of, as they tend to perceive uncommon pulses as more sustainable. Clear communication is therefore necessary to enhance consumer awareness.