Food - Drink
Carbon Food Labels May Be Coming. Here's What They Mean
By HOPE NGO
At the 2021 COP26 climate conference in Scotland, participants received meal menus that listed the carbon footprint for each dish alongside its name and description. According to food activist Klimato, this measure made sure that "food's impact on the climate was not going to fly under the radar" — and a similar practice may be coming to your kitchen and supermarket.
A 2020 survey showed that two-thirds of participating consumers from Europe and the U.S. support the idea of food products' carbon footprints being listed on their labels, alongside the traditional nutrition facts. This consumer preference "aligns with the growth in corporate demand" for carbon labels, according to Hugh Jones, Managing Director of the Carbon Trust.
Denmark has already agreed to use approximately $1.3 million to develop carbon labeling proposals before the end of 2022, while food companies such as Oatly and Quorn have already taken initiative to inform the public about the carbon footprint of their products. These measures may lead to citizens in many countries making more informed choices about the food they buy.