Understanding the environmental footprint of our food: analysing the connection between diet and environmental impact
Sustainability is now a global priority, especially in Europe, which has positioned itself as a leader in the fight against climate change. The COP Agreements set out commitments that are reflected in national legislation, most notably in Europe, the Green Pact and the Farm to Table Strategy adopted in 2020. These strategies seek to reduce the environmental footprint and achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions neutrality by 2050.
Food in the spotlight
Although agriculture contributes to GHG emissions, it is not the most critical sector in terms of environmental impact. However, there is a growing consumer demand to know the origin and environmental impact of the food they eat, as demonstrated by the 2023 Eurobarometer. This has driven regulatory and business initiatives to measure and reduce the environmental footprint of food.
Key concepts: carbon footprint, environmental footprint and sustainability footprint
- Carbon footprint: accounts for all GHGs emitted directly and indirectly by a product.
- Environmental footprint: associates a product throughout its life cycle, based on 16 technical parameters in the EU model.
- Sustainability footprint: considers the environmental, economic and social impact of a product.
Currently, there is no mandatory legislation in the EU defining these models, so we are in a process of development and consolidation.
Market initiatives
Despite the lack of official and mandatory systems, several initiatives have emerged:
- Commercial distribution: companies such as Coop in Sweden implement sustainability strategies and own measurement methods.
- Industry: projects such as Ingurulabel help SMEs to calculate and communicate the environmental impact of their products.
- Voluntary labelling: schemes such as ECOSCORE and PLANETSCORE in France, and ENVIROSCORE in Spain, seek to standardise the communication of the environmental footprint.
The European Commission plans to present a Regulation on Sustainable Food Systems that will include a sustainability footprint. However, there is currently no common and recognised model for measuring and communicating the environmental impact. Companies can take advantage of this resource with the support of specialised entities, ensuring compliance with Directive 2024/825 to avoid sanctions and align with future legislation.
