Environmental Impacts of Food Production and Consumption

Foster C., Green K., Bleda M.

Final Report to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

---

Table of contents :
TABLE OF CONTENTS……Page 3
List of Tables……Page 4
List of Figures……Page 5
Glossary……Page 6
Executive Summary……Page 10
Aims & Objectives……Page 17
Method……Page 18
Part 2: The environmental impact of food products……Page 26
Summary……Page 29
Bread……Page 30
Potatoes……Page 35
Processed potatoes – chips……Page 40
Pasta and Rice……Page 41
Summary……Page 44
Apples……Page 45
Carrots……Page 48
Tomatoes……Page 52
Tomato ketchup……Page 55
Peas, frozen……Page 58
Summary……Page 60
Milk……Page 61
Primary production of milk……Page 62
Transport (dairy farms to processors)……Page 64
Dairy processing……Page 65
Implications of alternative forms (organic, low fat, soya)……Page 66
Yoghurt, flavoured……Page 68
Implications of alternative forms (organic, pro-biotic, low……Page 73
Cheese……Page 74
Primary production of milk……Page 75
Cheese processing……Page 76
Ice cream……Page 77
Butter……Page 79
Summary……Page 82
Beef……Page 83
Lamb……Page 86
Pork chop……Page 88
Chicken, whole – conventional, free range & frozen……Page 92
Feed……Page 94
Transport……Page 95
Processing……Page 96
Post-processing……Page 97
Fish fingers (cod)……Page 99
Salmon fillets……Page 103
Eggs……Page 106
Lentils……Page 108
Summary……Page 110
UK beer production and consumption……Page 111
Barley……Page 112
Hops……Page 113
The brewing process……Page 114
Packaging……Page 115
Distribution……Page 116
Carbonated soft drinks and sugar……Page 117
Primary production of sugar cane……Page 118
Sugar processing……Page 119
Consumption of bottled water in the UK……Page 120
Transport……Page 121
Packaging……Page 122
Coffee……Page 123
Wine……Page 124
Summary……Page 126
Olive oil……Page 127
Sunflower oil……Page 128
Oil-based spread……Page 129
Pasta-based processed foods……Page 131
Pizza……Page 135
Environmental impact of food production and consumption: the……Page 136
Environmental impact of food production and consumption: som……Page 138
Further work to be done……Page 143
Annex 1: Trolley selection……Page 147
Introduction to LCA……Page 157
Elements of LCA……Page 158
LCA results……Page 161
Food product systems……Page 162
The functionality of food products……Page 165
Multi-product activities……Page 166
Simplifying factors……Page 167
Time and space……Page 169
Extended impact assessment……Page 170
Transport to the home……Page 171
Storage……Page 172
Preparation……Page 174
Wastage……Page 176
Annex 4: CML normalisation factors for Western Europe……Page 178
References……Page 179