Supermarkets will have to choice edit the products they offer customers, scaling back their meat and dairy ranges in favour of more seasonal fruit and veg if they are to fall into line with the UK's carbon emission targets.
That is the stark warning from a new report by the Food Ethics Council, which found that despite supermarkets' increased focus on climate change, carbon emissions from across the food sector are continuing to rise.
The research found that while supermarkets have made significant progress in curbing emissions from their transport and logistic operations, total greenhouse gas emissions for the UK food sector still climbed three per cent in the year 2005-06, largely as a result of an increase in total consumption.
The report claimed that the sector's total carbon footprint was likely to be larger still, as the figures failed to count for emissions from overseas arising from food imports.
"Carbon emissions from overseas are going up as imports increase," explained report co-author Dr Tom MacMillan. "Overseas emissions accounted for around a third of the food sector's carbon emissions in 2002, but by 2007 that had risen to a half."
The report calls for a cultural shift – a raft of new government measures designed to help create the regulatory framework necessary to cut emissions, including a wider commitment to lower carbon forms of transport, increased investment in local and urban agriculture and the adoption of a public sector wide sustainable food procurement policy.
However, it also argues for a cultural shift across the food retail sector that challenges long-held assumptions of customer sovereignty.
"These businesses need to embrace choice editing and not just in terms of their logistics, but in the products they stock," said MacMillan. "We are seeing it happen with some types of fish that are under threat and with companies like Wicks banning patio heaters, but we still require a larger cultural shift."
He argued that scaling back on meat and dairy products and ensuring that the fruit and vegetables that are stocked are in season would represent one of the most effective means for supermarkets to deliver deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
Report claims limiting ourselves to three burgers a week is necessary keep food-related greenhouse gas emissions at a constant, and warns regulation may be needed to change diets 30 Sep 2008
The retailer is planning to make use of new renewable capacity from Scottish Power 22 Oct 2008
Policy lacks co-ordination with existing efforts, say critics 08 Jul 2008
Sustainability is increasingly important to investors targeting Brazil, Russia, India and China, according to new report 09 Feb 2009
Shipping giant predicts Jatropha and switchgrass-based biofuels could power its fleet of aircraft 05 May 2009Survey of public sector IT managers reveals deep concern over ability to deliver on carbon-neutral targets 03 Jul 2009
Fresh funding will provide new wave energy research equipment and support research 03 Jul 2009
EPA hints it could soon raise efficiency bar for routers, modems and storage systems 03 Jul 2009
More news
From record-breaking solar panels to the International Renewable Energy Agency's new home, we round up the top stories from the past week 03 Jul 2009
Well, I hope they got a no win, no fee deal. I don't like being cynical (it's more of a congenital thing)... 03 Jul 2009
Recycling waste heat is nothing new, so why has the computer industry not kept up? 01 Jul 2009 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
