Study: 'Unnecessary' food miles multiplying carbon footprint of vegetables

Stuart Stone
clock • 5 min read
Credit: Riverford
Image:

Credit: Riverford

Riverford study claims Brits are increasingly frustrated with supermarkets stocking imported fruit and veg when the same produce is in season on UK farms

Vegetables that rack up thousands of "unnecessary food miles", having often travelled further than the average Brit this summer, result in a carbon footprint that is 257 times higher than the same produce...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Stuart Stone
Author spotlight

Stuart Stone

View profile
More from Stuart Stone

Government confirms controversial cuts to inflation-linked renewables subsidies

Where next for the UK's heat pump roll out?

More on Supply chain

Drax launches new Biomass Tracker to enhance visibility across supply chain
Supply chain

Drax launches new Biomass Tracker to enhance visibility across supply chain

New tool aims to show journey of woody biomass across Drax’s supply chain from sourcing to its power stations

Amber Rolt
clock 26 January 2026 • 2 min read
Launch of Waitrose's 'most sustainable' distribution centre to create over 550 jobs
Supply chain

Launch of Waitrose's 'most sustainable' distribution centre to create over 550 jobs

Retailer's first distribution centre in the South West to feature 1,200 solar panels and help vehicle fleet avoid 2,225 tonnes of carbon emissions a year

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 12 January 2026 • 2 min read
Amazon Soy Moratorium: As agri-giants quit, is the anti-deforestation pact at risk of splintering?
Supply chain

Amazon Soy Moratorium: As agri-giants quit, is the anti-deforestation pact at risk of splintering?

Despite being hailed by leading UK retailers as 'one of the most significant conservation measures this century', a number of global agri-giants have now abandoned the anti-deforestation pact

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 07 January 2026 • 7 min read