Carbon Footprint Food Labels
Global Garden
from our newsletter, broadcast on
Monday November 26, 2007
Monday November 26, 2007
By now, most of us have become familiar with the concept of the carbon footprint – the measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in units of carbon dioxide. Driving your car, turning on the lights in your house and flying in an airplane (for both business and pleasure) are all examples of activities that produce greenhouse gases. Food – and how it is grown, manufactured and transported – creates greenhouse gases too.
Now, an organization in Britain called the Carbon Trust, a private company set up by the British government in 2001 to help UK businesses lower carbon emissions and reduce energy costs, is taking steps to help consumers better understand the carbon footprint created by their food – by indicating it on the label. Their carbon footprint label, clearly marked with the amount of grams of CO2 created by the product, measures a product’s emissions from source to shelf. For example, a bag of Walkers Crisps – the third most recognizable brand in Britain – has a carbon footprint value of 75g.
So far, carbon reduction labels have been placed on all 13 flavors of Walkers Crisps. Other companies, including British pharmacy Boots, have introduced the label on point of sale material for their Botanics shampoo range, while Innocent Smoothie makers have added the label to their website information.
In addition, Tesco and a number of household brands, including Coca-Cola, Cadbury-Schweppes, Kimberly Clark and Muller Dairy (UK) have all committed to trialing the footprinting methodology to measure the carbon footprint of their products.
But the Carbon Trust label is more than just a public measure of a product’s carbon footprint. It represents a commitment on the part of the participating manufacturer to reduce their footprint within a two-year period. If they don’t, the Carbon Trust takes away their labeling privileges.
“We envisage that the label will eventually act as the bridge between carbon-conscious companies and their consumers. The label will not only provide a carbon measure but will demonstrate a corporate commitment to manage and reduce the carbon emissions of the product. Displaying the carbon content of products, and a commitment to reduce, will empower consumers to make informed choices and drive company behavior to deliver low carbon products,” says Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust.
Since two-thirds of us want to know the carbon footprint of the products we use – according to recent research compiled by the Carbon Trust – food labeling seems like a no-brainer, and the next logical step in taking the green movement to the food business. These days, many companies see climate change as the primary issue likely to impact corporate reputation, so consumer education is crucial. In essence, labeling gives customers access to better information about the potential impact of climate change of every product they buy, and hopefully, initiates change as a result.
Interestingly, some environmental activists, like those at the Carbon Trade Watch, worry that labeling actually draws focus away from a manufacturer’s carbon-reduction responsibilities – and shifts this responsibility to consumers. They are also concerned that labeling will encourage consumers to buy more of a product that is considered environmentally sound – when an overall reduction in consumption is what is really needed to curb global emissions.
No matter what side of the argument you’re on, American consumers will simply have to wait to join the debate. Labels aren’t available for products here – yet. For now, retailers will have to help consumers understand – and reduce – their footprints in other ways. Installing energy saving bulbs, unplugging cell phone chargers when they are not in use and insulating your house are just three simple ways to save billions of pounds of energy annually.
