How the food industry contributes to carbon emissions, why the increase in carbon emissions is a problem and how to reduce your business's carbon emissions.
Objective 9 of the Bristol Eating Better Award outlines 6 actions you can take to reduce carbon and help address the climate emergency.
For more detailed guidance about the actions see the pdf guidance document (904 KB) .
How the food industry contributes to carbon emissions and why they're a problem
Human activity is contributing to an increase in carbon emissions. Burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal releases carbon directly into the atmosphere. Deforestation also increases carbon emissions because trees act as a natural carbon sink and absorb carbon dioxide, so cutting down trees reduces this natural storage. This increased carbon in the atmosphere is causing climate change Go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24021772 (opens new window).
In 2018 Bristol declared a climate emergency in response to the effects of climate change on human life, wildlife and the planet we inhabit. You can read more about the action being taken in Bristol to address the climate emergency on the Bristol One City website Go to https://www.bristolonecity.com/climate/ (opens new window).
The food system is a major contributor to climate change through agriculture, transportation and food waste. Land is cleared for livestock production to create grazing land and to grow animal feed. Many agricultural systems are intensive, using lots of energy during production, such as heated greenhouses. Food is then often transported many miles from where it's grown or produced, especially in order to meet demand for produce that is out of season in the UK.
The UK's National Food Strategy recommends that by 2032 the national diet requires a 30% increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and a 30% reduction in meat consumption Go to https://www.nationalfoodstrategy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/National-Food-Strategy-Chapter-16.pdf (opens new window) to meet our health, climate and nature commitments. The EAT-Lancet Commission have developed the planetary health diet Go to https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet-commission/the-planetary-health-diet-and-you/ (opens new window) which is an optimal diet for human health and environmental sustainability. This emphasises a plant-rich diet where whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes comprise a greater proportion of foods consumed. Meat and dairy still constitute important parts of the diet but in significantly smaller proportions than plants.
Hints and tips to reduce carbon
- Try a ‘more veg, better meat' approach: incorporate more plant-based ingredients in the food you serve. If you do serve meat, use less of it and buy better quality, responsibly sourced meat.
- Buy UK seasonal produce as much as possible. This uses less energy and is unlikely to have travelled as many miles as food produced overseas.
- Switch to more sustainable transport options for your business such as using a bike delivery service, or freight consolidation to minimise deliveries.
- Make energy efficiency improvements to your premises if you own your site or encourage your landlord to do so if you rent, for example switching to energy efficient lightbulbs, fitting double glazing or installing draft proofing.
- Develop a carbon reduction plan and help Bristol become carbon neutral by 2030.
- Tell your customers about the changes you're making.
Page last reviewed: 5 October 2022
