Climate Friendly Foods

18th October 2011

Production and consumption of food accounts to 22% - 31% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. That was the bad news. The good news is that each of us can make a small difference by choosing wisely when in comes to the consumption side of the equation. The easy rule of thumb, as we have been told so many times, is to buy local and according to the season - transportation is a major source of the CO2 emissions, as is e.g. the heating of the greenhouses used in cultivation outside the season.

Here in Denmark the consumers are in general interested in taking responsibility through their own consumption choices, and the public sector is active in the dialogue and providing the research to assist the consumers. Recently, the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries together with a consumer organization "Tænk" drafted lists of food split by how much CO2 is being generated through their production and consumption. For those interested, I am copying the lists here.

The Climate-friendliest foods:

(Under 100 g of CO2 equivalent per portion)

- Carrots: 0,122

- Ecological carrots: 0,195

- Onion: 0,382

- Salad: 0,4 to 0,68

- Cabbage: 0,48

- Spinach: 0,98

- Imported cucumber: 1,3

- Imported tomatoes: 0,85 to 1,4

- Apples: 0,04 to 0,1 and 0,29 to 0,72

- Potatoes: 0,21

- Oatmeal: 0,79

- Sugar: 0,96

- Rye bread (fresh): 0,79

- Wheat bread (fresh): 0,84

- Wheat bread (frozen): 1,20

- Eggs: 2,0

- Herring (wild, whole, fresh): 0,63

- Juice concentrate: 0,14

- Soft drinks: 0,14

- Beer: 0.09

- Tap water: 0,164

A Little Less Climate Friendly Foods:

(100 - 300 g of CO2 equivalent per portion)

- Local tomatoes (greenhouse): 3,45

- Local cucumber (greenhouse): 4,37

- Cheese: 11,3

- Milk: 1,23

- Trout (cultivated, whole, fresh): 1,8

- Herring (filet, frozen): 1,8

- Cod (wild, whole, fresh): 1,2 

The Least Climate Friendly Foods:

(300 - 1000 g of CO2 equivalent per portion)

- Tomatoes (local, greenhouse cultivated, ecological): 4,950

- Rice: 6,4

- Chicken (fresh): 3

- Chicken (frozen): 3,7

- Pork: 3,6

- Pork (ecological): 3,6

- Pork sausage: 5,3

- Trout (filet, frozen): 4,5

- Shrimp (fresh): 3,0

- Cod (filet, frozen): 3,2

- Wine: 4,5

- Shrimp (peeled, frozen): 10,5

- Beef: 19,1

Interesting reading, isn't it? Maybe something to consider next time in the supermarket...

Happy autumn to everybody!