Campden BRI ©Campden BRI 2008 Eco-Labelling & Carbon Footprinting: A UK Perspective Alan Campbell Campden BRI

Campden BRI©Campden BRI 2008

Eco-Labelling & Carbon Footprinting:

A UK Perspective

Alan CampbellCampden BRI


A New Name

Campden BRI

+


Campden BRI - Chipping Campden

CCFRA 2008 Campden BRI

©Campden BRI 2008

Campden BRI - What is our Role ?

To provideCentre of scientific and technical excellence

For the benefits ofOur clients

By havingA sound research and development base with the ability to advise, train and serve the food, drink,

catering and associated industries

So as to ensureProduct safety, improved product quality and efficiency

and stimulate product, package and process innovation.


©Campden BRI 2008

Campden BRIOver 85 years experience working with the

food chain (est. 1919)

Annual Sales Turnover c. £ 12.5 m

Staff c. 300 (+ 30 in Hungary)

Members c. 1600 companies worldwide

Independent and non-profit distributing

Largest in the world


PAS 2050

• PAS 2050 explains how to assess GHG emissions of an individual product, either a physical good or a service, across its entire life cycle:

– from raw materials through all stages of production (or service provision), distribution, use and disposal

• Developed in partnership by BSI, The Carbon Trust and Defra in the UK, with significant input from other stakeholders

• The method was tested across a diverse set of sectors and product types

• PAS 2050 final version published October 2008

PAS 2050:2008. ‘Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services’


Types of data

• Activity data refers to all the quantities involved in the product’s life cycle (material inputs and outputs; energy used; transport; etc.)

• Emission factors provide the link that converts these quantities into the resulting GHG emissions:

For electricity: e.g. in CO2e per kWh For fuel: e.g. in CO2e per litre of fuel used ...

Two types of data are necessary to calculate a carbon footprint:


Data sources

• Primary activity data refers to data measured internally or by someone else in the supply chain

PAS 2050 states that primary activity data must be used for all processes and materials which your organisation owns, operates or controls

• Secondary data comes from sources other than direct measurement (LCA databases, industry reports, etc.)

Where primary data is not available (e.g. for some raw materials), secondary data may be used

Data can come from either primary or secondary sources:


Calculation

The basic equation for product carbon footprinting is the sum of all material inputs and outputs multiplied by their emission factors, across all activities in the product’s life cycle:

AD: activity data, measured in mass, volume, energy, etc.

EF: emission factor, measured in CO2e per unit of mass, volume, ...

CF: carbon footprint, measured in CO2e per product unit

Lifecycle step 1: AD1 x EF1 = CF1

Lifecycle step 2: AD2 x EF1 = CF1

...

Overall product life cycle carbon footprint: CF


Uncertainty

• Reducing uncertainty: Replace secondary/reference data with good quality primary

activity data Improve the model used to calculate the carbon footprint to

make it more representative of reality

If the goal is to certify and communicate the product footprint to customers, then it will require more precise calculations than simply using the footprint data internally to improve processes.

• Sources of uncertainty: Missing data for parts of the supply chain Data of questionable quality: not specific, not reliable, ...


Example: The carbon

footprint of a bottle of ale


The process map

Disposal

Consumer Use

Distribution/Retail

Manufacture

Raw MaterialsPackaging


Summary & Hotspots


Summary & Hotspots

Total Packaging = 24%


Apple Juice (Own Farm)

CF per PU kgCO2/PU

0.195 0.235 0.013 0.001 0.001 0.049

Materials Apples Glass bottle Plastic cap Paper

label/adhesive Plastic cap wrap Cardboard boxes

Percentage

39%

47%

Total Packaging

60%

Campden BRI

©Campden BRI 2008

Reliance on secondary data:1 litre homemade apple juice

Importance of secondary data


©Campden BRI 2008

Chilled cottage pie footprint

High value 400g chilled cottage pie

25 ingredients

36 unit operations

Many co-products

Absolute data remains confidential to company and Defra


©Campden BRI 2008

Beef cottage pie product unit (PU) composition


©Campden BRI 2008

Breakdown of the GHG contributions to 400g beef

cottage pie ready meal

Packaging


©Campden BRI 2008

Allocation for co-products:

500g pre-packed cheesePackaging


©Campden BRI 2008

Carbon Footprint

Still in early stagesLimited number of products

availableTesco – 4Walkers CrispsOther companies still developing

information


Tesco

Other products include

• Low energy light bulbs

• Laundry Detergents

• Potatoes

Campden BRI

©Campden BRI 2008

Post launch findings.Initial customer survey on labelling had positive findings.

85% thinking about the impact of products they buy on the environment

68% of respondents now correctly understood the term ‘Carbon Footprint’

32% also understood the concept of product lifecycle.

Only 2% claimed they had ‘no idea’

20% recognition of label

54% claim that they would buy products with a lower carbon footprint if they were widely labelled

A further 38% said they would if they were as cheap/convenient

Campden BRI

©Campden BRI 2008

Walkers – Cheese & Onion

Grow/Harvest = 44%Processing = 30%Packaging = 15%Transport = 9%Disposal (pack) = 2%


©Campden BRI 2008

Consumer Awareness

• Too many different logos on packs• Are they important (to me)?• Industry responsible for education• Other studies

– When alerted consumer has high understanding

– When publicity stops?– Is price a factor?


©Campden BRI 2008

Results of DEFRA Survey - Headline Findings (across

projects)• Consumer understanding is low and assumptions do not match reality

• ‘If this is serious’ - Consumers expect Government and Business to be acting

• Behaviour goals – People are motivated by local scale and personal benefits People are unlikely to take on anything that will impact their everyday lifestyle

• Buying ‘better products’ is acceptable and people are interested in knowing they’re better


©Campden BRI 2008

Results of DEFRA Survey – Headline Findings from Food

ResearchAny voluntary shift towards pro-environmental behaviour on consumers’ side must be met with visible action from business and government

• A premium is placed on leadership in this area

• Businesses are seen as the lynch-pin for change

• Consumers are seeking leadership and guidance from Government


©Campden BRI 2008

Results of DEFRA Survey – Headline Findings from Food

Research• Business is a lynchpin for change

Consumers believe supermarkets and food manufacturers have a central role to play in creating change

• Across all segments consumers are looking for business to:

Self regulate to ensure sustainable practices Enable better choices for consumers Implement sustainable practices during production


Carbon Neutral Beer

Uses offsetting to produce a Carbon Neutral Product


Mature Logo


Same Message – But Different


Multiple Recycling Information


Logo Overload?


Conventional vs Bio/Compostable

Conventional

• Non-renewable resource

• Absorbs carbon

Bio/Compostable

• Natural renewable product

• Carbon neutral (?)

• End of life – biomass & water


Packaging

The contribution by packaging materials to the carbon footprint of the product is often overstated

The whole production process must be fully understood before a true value can be obtained


Thank you

Alan CampbellCampden BRI

+44 1386 [email protected]

www.campden.co.uk

Documents

Campden BRI ©Campden BRI 2008 Eco-Labelling & Carbon Footprinting: A UK Perspective Alan Campbell Campden BRI