How to Reduce Food Miles and Lower a Restaurant's Carbon Footprint

You’ve probably heard of food miles and a product’s carbon footprint. Both food miles and a restaurant’s carbon footprint, including food miles emissions, are useful measures when you’re thinking about reducing your environmental impact. They may seem complex at first, but once you understand their meaning you will be able to begin to reduce your impact with ease.

What are food miles?

Food miles are a measure of the distance food has traveled before arriving at your plate. This includes the distance between the grower, the manufacturer, the distributor, the retailer, and the restaurant.

Food in the UK is estimated to travel over 30 billion kilometres by ship, train, and road each year, which produces around 19 million tonnes of CO2 annually, which has a detrimental effect on our planet. This extensive travel contributes significantly to food transport emissions, which are a major component of the overall carbon footprint of food.

International food miles highlight the environmental impact caused by food transportation across borders. High-income countries contribute disproportionately to food miles and associated carbon emissions, accounting for 52% of global food miles despite only making up 12.5% of the world's population. Considering local sourcing and seasonal eating can help mitigate these climate impacts.

The further that the food has to travel before it reaches a plate, the more carbon emissions they release, meaning that they have a heavier food’s carbon footprint. This is especially likely if the food has traveled by air, due to the high climate impact of planes. Transporting food by air emits

• c50 times as much greenhouse gasses as transporting the food by sea
• c10 times more carbon emissions than road transport.

Therefore, in order to help reduce carbon emissions and global warming, we all need to plan to serve and make food with less air miles.

Here are some tips to reduce your restaurant’s food miles:

1. Buy and serve food that is grown and produced locally, such as from your local farmers market. You can find your local farmers market here.
2. Try growing your own fruit and veg. Allotments or veg patches all make a difference (and make a menu look really compelling).
3. Change your way of travel. Try to cycle, walk, or take public transport so that you don’t add to the food miles that have already materialised.
4. Go foraging. In the summer especially, a wide variety of herbs, mushrooms, fruit, and veg.
5. Eat seasonally. This ensures you are eating food that is produced locally for your area rather than being flown in from abroad, such as eating raspberries in the summer.
6. Try eco-friendly and low carbon footprint restaurants for inspiration. Here are 16 of the best eco-friendly and sustainable restaurants in London; https://foodism.co.uk/guides/london-sustainable-restaurants/

The Environmental Impact of Food Miles

Food miles have a significant impact on the environment, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and climate change. The transportation of food from one place to another requires energy, which is often generated by burning fossil fuels and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to a study, global food miles account for around 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions each year, which is approximately 20% of total food systems emissions. This highlights that while buying locally is often seen as beneficial for reducing emissions, a significant portion of total food systems emissions still arises from domestic transport activities, which tend to be more polluting compared to international shipping. The environmental impact of food miles is not limited to carbon emissions; it also contributes to air pollution, noise pollution, and habitat destruction.

Benefits of Local Food

Buying local food has numerous benefits for the environment, the economy, and our health. Local food typically has fewer food miles, which means it requires less energy to transport and produces fewer carbon emissions. Additionally, local food is often fresher, tastes better, and is more nutritious. By buying local food, we are supporting local farmers, boosting the local economy, and promoting sustainable agriculture. Local food also helps to preserve biodiversity, as it often involves growing a variety of crops and raising different types of livestock.

A Restaurant’s Carbon Footprint

Restaurants have a significant carbon footprint, and food miles play a substantial role in it. The transportation of food from suppliers to restaurants, as well as the energy required to store and cook food, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. A study found that the carbon footprint of a restaurant can be reduced by up to 50% by implementing sustainable food practices, such as sourcing local ingredients, reducing food waste, and using energy-efficient equipment. Restaurants can also reduce their carbon footprint by offering plant-based options, which tend to have a lower carbon footprint than meat-based dishes.

Sustainable Food Practices

Sustainable food practices are essential for reducing the environmental impact of food production, processing, and transportation. Some sustainable food practices include reducing food waste, using energy-efficient equipment, and sourcing local ingredients. Restaurants and consumers can also adopt sustainable food practices by choosing seasonal produce, reducing meat consumption, and supporting sustainable agriculture. By adopting sustainable food practices, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, and promote biodiversity.

Seasonal Eating and Menu Planning

Seasonal eating and menu planning are essential for reducing food miles and promoting sustainable agriculture. By eating seasonal produce, we are supporting local farmers and reducing the demand for out-of-season produce, which often requires long-distance transportation. Menu planning can also help reduce food waste and promote sustainable food practices. Restaurants and consumers can plan their menus around seasonal produce, reducing the need for imported ingredients and promoting local food systems.

Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food is an excellent way to reduce food miles and promote sustainable agriculture. By growing your own food, you are reducing the demand for industrially produced food, which often requires long-distance transportation and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Growing your own food also allows you to control the production process, ensuring that your food is grown using sustainable practices and without the use of harmful chemicals. Additionally, growing your own food can be a fun and rewarding experience, allowing you to connect with nature and promote biodiversity.

Strategies for Reducing Food Miles

Reducing food miles requires a multi-faceted approach that involves individuals, businesses, and governments. Here are some strategies that can help:

• Buy local: Purchasing food from local farmers and producers can significantly reduce food miles. This approach not only supports the local economy but also ensures that the food is fresh and of high quality. By buying local, you are cutting down on the distance food has to travel, thereby reducing food transport emissions and the overall carbon footprint of your meals.
• Eat seasonal: Eating seasonal produce can help reduce food miles by minimising the need for transportation from other regions or countries. Seasonal produce is also often cheaper and tastes better. By focusing on what’s in season, you can enjoy fresher, more flavourful food while contributing to fewer food miles and lower carbon emissions.
• Grow your own: Growing your own food can be a fun and rewarding way to reduce food miles. Even a small garden or a few pots on a balcony can make a difference. By cultivating your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you are eliminating the need for long-distance transportation and reducing your food’s carbon footprint.
• Support sustainable agriculture: Sustainable agriculture practices prioritise environmental stewardship and social responsibility. By supporting sustainable agriculture, individuals can help reduce food miles and promote more environmentally friendly farming practices. Look for local farms that use sustainable methods and consider joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.
• Reduce food waste: Reducing food waste can help minimise the need for transportation and reduce food miles. Planning meals, using up leftovers, and composting food waste can all help reduce food waste. By being mindful of food waste, you are not only saving money but also contributing to fewer food miles and lower carbon emissions.

Supply Chain Management and Food Miles

Supply chain management plays a critical role in reducing food miles. Here are some ways that supply chain management can help:

• Optimise logistics: Optimizing logistics can help reduce food miles by minimising the number of transportation modes and routes used. This can be achieved through the use of technology, such as route optimisation software, which can streamline delivery processes and reduce unnecessary travel, thereby cutting down on food transport emissions.
• Use alternative transportation modes: Using alternative transportation modes, such as rail or sea, can help reduce food miles. These modes of transportation are often more fuel-efficient and produce fewer emissions than trucking. By choosing more sustainable transport options, businesses can significantly lower their food mile emissions.
• Implement just-in-time delivery: Implementing just-in-time delivery can help reduce food miles by minimising the need for storage and transportation. This approach requires careful planning and coordination but can be effective in reducing food miles. By receiving goods only as they are needed, businesses can reduce the distance food travels and decrease carbon emissions.
• Use local distribution centres: Using local distribution centres can help reduce food miles by minimising the need for long-distance transportation. This approach can also help reduce costs and improve delivery times. By centralising distribution closer to the end consumer, businesses can cut down on the distance food travels and lower their overall carbon footprint.

Measuring and Tracking Food Miles

Measuring and tracking food miles is essential for reducing them. Here are some ways to measure and track food miles:

• Use carbon footprint labels: Carbon footprint labels can help consumers make informed choices about the food they buy. These labels provide information about the carbon footprint of a product, including the distance it has traveled. By choosing products with lower food miles, consumers can contribute to reducing global food miles and their associated emissions.
• Track transportation data: Tracking transportation data can help businesses and individuals understand where their food is coming from and how it is being transported. This information can be used to identify areas for improvement and optimise logistics. By analysing transportation data, businesses can make more sustainable choices and reduce food mile emissions.
• Use food mile calculators: Food mile calculators can help individuals estimate the distance their food has traveled. These calculators can be used to compare different products and make informed choices. By using food mile calculators, consumers can become more aware of the impact of their food choices and opt for options with fewer food miles.
• Conduct life cycle assessments: Conducting life cycle assessments can help businesses and individuals understand the environmental impact of their food choices. These assessments take into account the entire life cycle of a product, from production to disposal. By conducting life cycle assessments, businesses can identify opportunities to reduce food miles and lower their overall carbon footprint.

Overcoming Challenges in Reducing Food Miles

Reducing food miles can be challenging, but there are several strategies that can help overcome these challenges. Here are some of the common challenges and solutions:

• Limited access to local food: Limited access to local food can make it difficult to reduce food miles. Solutions include supporting local farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture programs, and online platforms that connect consumers with local producers. By seeking out local food sources, consumers can reduce the distance food travels and support the local economy.
• Higher costs: Reducing food miles can sometimes be more expensive. Solutions include buying in bulk, planning meals, and using coupons or discounts to reduce costs. By being strategic about food purchases, consumers can manage costs while still opting for options with fewer food miles.
• Limited availability of seasonal produce: Limited availability of seasonal produce can make it difficult to eat seasonal. Solutions include preserving food through canning or freezing, using greenhouses or indoor gardens, and supporting local farmers who use sustainable agriculture practices. By finding creative ways to access seasonal produce, consumers can enjoy fresh, local food year-round and reduce food miles.
• Lack of awareness: Lack of awareness about food miles and their impact on the environment can make it difficult to reduce food miles. Solutions include educating consumers about the benefits of reducing food miles, providing information about the carbon footprint of products, and promoting sustainable agriculture practices. By raising awareness, we can encourage more people to make sustainable food choices and reduce their food’s carbon footprint.

By implementing these strategies and overcoming challenges, we can all contribute to reducing food miles and lowering our carbon footprint, making a positive impact on the environment.

A restaurant's food's carbon footprint

Restaurants obviously have a carbon footprint, which is the total amount of greenhouse gasses emitted directly or indirectly through its activities.

 A restaurant's carbon footprint is made up of a number of factors:-

• Size of restaurant 
• Number of Staff
• Heating and lighting
• Plus the type of food served and how far it has traveled to get to the restaurant. 

Meat has a much higher carbon footprint than vegetables so vegan or vegetarian restaurants are automatically more environmentally friendly. 

Restaurants that grow their own organic produce such as Daylesford cafes where all their food comes straight from their farm to our forks, are similarly much more eco friendly than restaurants who buy from suppliers who do not have a commitment to sustainability.  

At SkootEco we offer a solution to any restaurants who are looking to reduce their carbon. Our restaurant solution enables restaurants to automatically plant trees to offset purchases made in the restaurant. 

Choosing to eat at eco conscious and sustainable restaurants that are actively attempting to reduce their carbon footprint will help you be kinder to the planet. 

Food miles and a restaurant's carbon footprint are important considerations when it comes to eating without anxiety that you are damaging the environment. The environmental impact of our diets can be reduced by being conscious of your food miles and choosing to eat at sustainable restaurants.