Eat seasonal and local
The food and drink sector produces more than 30% of the European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is partly due to transport, because we no longer eat local food in season. In the UK, about a quarter of all heavy-goods vehicle miles are to transport food.
And although only 1% of food is air-freighted, it accounts for 11% of the greenhouse gases produced by food transport – and air-freight of food is rapidly growing.
Overseas, clearing land for crops is the main cause of global deforestation, which we in the UK support when we eat those crops.
And within the UK, supermarket food travels via regional distribution centres, adding food miles. Instead of walking to the local shops on foot, people often drive. One in ten car journeys is for food shopping – the equivalent of half a million transatlantic flights a year.
A lot of scope to reduce our carbon footprints…
And although only 1% of food is air-freighted, it accounts for 11% of the greenhouse gases produced by food transport – and air-freight of food is rapidly growing.
Overseas, clearing land for crops is the main cause of global deforestation, which we in the UK support when we eat those crops.
And within the UK, supermarket food travels via regional distribution centres, adding food miles. Instead of walking to the local shops on foot, people often drive. One in ten car journeys is for food shopping – the equivalent of half a million transatlantic flights a year.
A lot of scope to reduce our carbon footprints…
