A life cycle assessment perspective on some foods
Andrew D Moorelifecyclelogic.com.au © 2013
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Envi
ronm
enta
l im
pact HOTSPO
T
PRODUCTION USE END OF
LIFE
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Envi
ronm
enta
l im
pact HOTSPO
T
PRODUCTION USE END OF
LIFE
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Myth: “It takes more energy to
produce a solar electric system
than it will ever generate”
MYTH BUSTED
Life cycle of food
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FARM SUPPLIES
FARM
PROCESSING
COOKING &
STORAGE
WASTE
cradle to gate
DISTRIBUTION
Life cycle of food
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FARM SUPPLIES
FARM
PROCESSING
COOKING &
STORAGE
WASTE
grower to grocer
DISTRIBUTION
Life cycle of food
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FARM SUPPLIES
FARM
PROCESSING
COOKING &
STORAGE
WASTE
paddock to plate / farm to fork
DISTRIBUTION
Life cycle of food
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FARM SUPPLIES
FARM
PROCESSING
COOKING &
STORAGE
WASTE
cradle to grave
DISTRIBUTION
9source: http://conference.alcas.asn.au/alcasprogram/Renouf_Review_Agriculture_Paper.pdf
Growth of food LCA studies inAustralia
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To grow each punnet of strawberries it takes…
3 DROPS OF PESTICIDE
170 ML DIESEL
1 TEASPOON OF FERTILISER
14 LITRES WATER
source: doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.031
1111
54%14% 26% 7% 0.8
1.2
0.5
FARM
PROCESSING & STORAGE
source: doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.031
FARM SUPPLIES
TOTALkg CO2-e/250g
81% 8% 5%6%81%
54%
48%13% 35% 4%48%
Grower to grocer (WA)
DISTRIBUTION
1212
45% 0.2
CRADLE TO FARM GATE
source: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.03.036
TOTALkg CO2-e/250g
Seasonal produce
55%
94% 2% 0.5
SEASONAL FIELDGROWN(1500KM)
YEAR ROUND LOCALGREENHOUSEGROWN
DISTRIBUTION
87%
1313source: http://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/
FARM SUPPLIES
TOTALkg CO2-e/250g
How about milk?
0.314%
FARM
57%18%
Italian pasta
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21%37% 4% 38%
PRODUCTION
COOKING
TOTALkg CO2-e/250gFARM
source: http://environdec.com/Articles/EPD/Declaring-the-impact-of-pasta/#.Uos1Pvlgd8E
0.5
DISTRIBUTION
Italian pasta
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21%37% 4% 38%
PRODUCTION
DISTRIBUTION
COOKING
TOTALkg CO2-e/250gFARM
source: http://environdec.com/Articles/EPD/Declaring-the-impact-of-pasta/#.Uos1Pvlgd8E
0.5
Italian pasta
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FARM PRODUCTION
DISTRIBUTION
TOTALkg CO2-e/250gCOOKING
source: http://environdec.com/Articles/EPD/Declaring-the-impact-of-pasta/#.Uos1Pvlgd8E
13%23% 2% 62% 0.9
Italian pasta (imported to W.A.)
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FARM PRODUCTION
DISTRIBUTION
TOTALkg CO2-e/250gCOOKING
source: http://environdec.com/Articles/EPD/Declaring-the-impact-of-pasta/#.Uos1Pvlgd8E
13%23% 2% 62% 0.9
Italian pasta (in W.A.)
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FARM PRODUCTION
DISTRIBUTION
TOTALkg CO2-e/250gCOOKING
source: http://environdec.com/Articles/EPD/Declaring-the-impact-of-pasta/#.Uos1Pvlgd8E
69%9%16% 5% 1.2
Food Waste (UK)
19source: http://www.tescoplc.com/
Disposal
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65%
?
source: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/policy/lead-market-initiative/files/waste_mng_leaflet_en.pdf
Use a life cycle perspective
Transport can be OK
Eat seasonal produce
Minimise food waste
More research
What can we do?
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www.lifecyclelogic.com.au
Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society(alcas.asn.au)
More information
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