Three ways to reduce the carbon footprint of food purchased by US
households

Date:
November 3, 2021
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
Most consumers want to make food purchases that are smart for their
wallets, their health and the environment. And while switching to
a vegetarian or vegan diet can lower one's impact on greenhouse gas
emissions, it may not be realistic or healthful for everyone. Now,
researchers report three ways that Americans can reduce the carbon
footprint of their food purchases, without requiring drastic
dietary changes.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Most consumers want to make food purchases that are smart for their
wallets, their health and the environment. And while switching to
a vegetarian or vegan diet can lower one's impact on greenhouse gas
emissions, it may not be realistic or healthful for everyone. Now,
researchers in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology report three ways
that Americans can reduce the carbon footprint of their food purchases,
without requiring drastic dietary changes.


========================================================================== Getting food from farms to people's plates contributes a sizeable portion
of the global greenhouse gas emissions. And animals are inefficient at converting the plants they eat into energy, so meat and dairy products
result in higher emissions than fruit, vegetables and grains. Based
on that knowledge, previous researchers have provided suggestions for
changes that individuals or households can make to reduce the emissions generated by food production.

However, most of these recommendations have been based on an "average
American diet." In reality, not everyone eats the same types or quantities
of foods, so to account for this diversity, Hua Cai and colleagues wanted
to assess the actual groceries purchased by U.S. households and identify
the hotspots of carbon emissions in these purchases.

The researchers analyzed detailed grocery purchase records of over
57,000 U.S.

households in 2010, and for each home, summed the greenhouse gas
emissions for growing and harvesting the food items. Data for packaging
and transportation were not included because that information was
unavailable. Then, they compared the emissions calculation to that
which would be generated from buying foods for a benchmark healthy and sustainable diet.

The team's analysis revealed that 71% of homes surveyed could decrease
their food carbon footprint, identifying three main ways for consumers
to do so. The suggestions are:
* Small households of one or two people should buy less food in bulk
quantities, which is often more than will be eaten, and
manufacturers should offer cost-effective package sizes.

* Cutting out foods with high caloric content and low nutritional
values
would result in a 29% reduction of the total potential emissions,
while also potentially improving health outcomes.

* People should buy less savory bakery products and ready-made foods.

Though those foods are responsible for relatively low carbon
emissions, the large amounts of these items that are purchased
adds up to significant emissions.

In summary, the researchers say these strategies are initial ways people
can reduce their at-home food-based carbon footprint.

The authors acknowledge funding from Purdue University Environmental and Ecological Engineering for providing the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Li Song, Hua Cai, Ting Zhu. Large-Scale Microanalysis of
U.S. Household
Food Carbon Footprints and Reduction Potentials. Environmental
Science & Technology, 2021; DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02658 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211103082607.htm

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