On each tag the following information is listed: origin of food; kilometers travelled to supermarket; quantity of greenhouse gas emissions during production, transport and processing; total water consumption during production and processing; quantity and types of pesticides and fertilizers used; average amount of item wasted; and if wrapped, time taken for the plastic to break down in landfill.
Most Australians would be unaware that their greatest contribution to climate change is through the food they eat.
However, our food system has a significant impact on the environment.
Once our meats, fruits and vegetables have been grown, they are often processed, transforming them into the items we recognise on supermarket shelves.
Processing plants have significant environmental impacts through water consumption and waste.
Interestingly, carbon emissions from transport represent only 11 per cent of the carbon footprint on average, with approximately 83 per cent coming from how the food is grown.
Eat less meat Individually, the biggest contribution we can make to reduce our carbon footprint is eating less meat.
If that’s the case, just begin with eating one less meat meal a week and see if you can reduce further over time.
Food waste breaks down in landfill to become a key source of carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
Organic farms promote genetic biodiversity, cause less water pollution and reduce soil damage.