Environment Magazine

 

A report in the UK last week suggested that 34% of food purchased at supermarkets was wasted. That represents both a lot of money and potentially a lot of food miles and carbon. Agriculture and transport are two of the major emitters of greenhouse gases and together account for just under 50% of emissions, so there is an immediate link between waste and emissions.

 

 

A report in the UK last week suggested that 34% of food purchased at supermarkets was wasted. That represents both a lot of money and potentially a lot of food miles and carbon. Agriculture and transport are two of the major emitters of greenhouse gases and together account for just under 50% of emissions, so there is an immediate link between waste and emissions.

The “used by” or “best before” dating of food is a relatively new concept that is about a generation old. It emerged in most of the developed world in the 1970’s in response to a desire then to protect and improve public health. As food standards have become stricter and as food purchasers have switched from frozen to chilled food, the used by or best before dates have been shortened and with little public resistance. The public has not complained because, when it comes to what you eat, you can never be too sure.

Food waste brings in a number of elements in the carbon chain. Wasted food not only uses land that could be used for other purposes, it wastes energy, it contributes in transport congestion and emissions, it requires higher energy use from retailers and it increases the costs to the environment of packaging and disposal. It would be a good thing for any government, business or environmentalist to re-evaluate. There seems little doubt that food waste should be a good thing to reduce.

As we move, or hope to move to a low carbon economy, we should look and revisit all our assumptions about the way we live and do business. Food should not be exempt and food labelling, not just the carbon miles, should be revisited. While, it is difficult to regulate the public’s consumption of food, government can encourage the public to not waste food. The environmental impact might be enormous. The amount of wasted food in the UK, in carbon miles, on this author’s estimation might exceed the public’s use of aeroplanes. If so, that is significant and politically significant.

Taking a step back, there are many things businesses and the public can to do to reduce food waste or if you wish to phase it differently, reduce the carbon emissions from the food you eat. At Camden Council in London, the remedy to reduce food miles has been to run a vegetarian cafeteria. There are better ideas out there.

Food is becoming both a big political and environmental issue and there are already many facets to it. Climate change experts predict rising food prices as land becomes less fertile or not arable, or as suggested recently, energy in the form of bio fuels begin to compete with food for land. There is pressure even now on land use and a huge debate about the use of land as a response to climate change; food is part of that debate.

So what can be done to get developed countries to reduce, not food consumption, (although obesity might suggest that too is a good idea), but food waste? The most obvious way is to encourage people to better plan how they spend money on food and when they buy food. That might mean better planning the way people eat. This kind of thinking is difficult to implement and measure and for that reason usually means a lot of public money is wasted. Buying locally and little and often, which might be another behavioural change is another way of encouraging less waste as the evidence suggests that that the growth of supermarkets, fridge sizes and the institution of the weekly shop all contribute to food waste. Again parts of this solution are easy to implement or convey, while others are not. A final suggestion, and readers will have more, is that we look at the use of “used by” and “best before” dates. Dating is encouraging the earlier disposal and therefore greater waste of food. Across the developed world, dating has become one of the main reasons why perfectly good food is disposed of early. Dating is rarely accurate. Indeed the practice of dating against a background of hardening food, health and safety laws only encourages food manufacturers to shorten “use by “or “best before” dates. The liabilities if manufacturers or retailers get it wrong are just too high to play with. Governments, with the encouragement and support of business, (although large supermarkets will drag their feet), need to be a lot more realistic about dating food. Likewise, the public should rely less on dates but on the quality, look and smell of food.

There will be phobia around this suggestion but we should remember that food dating is just a generation old. A reduction in anything that we might consume, will also reduce emissions, it will also better allocate the use of land both for agriculture and waste disposal.

There is no better time than now to begin a review.

"Only the USA and China consume more oil than California," observes Jim Boyd, Vice Chairman of the California Energy Commission. With oil prices soaring, California must reduce its dependency on oil to sustain prosperity and achieve energy security.

As 38 million Californians deploy a range of solutions to reducing oil usage, the world will learn valuable lessons. In 2006, California consumption of gasoline peaked, even though population continues on the path of doubling over a 30 year period.

 "Only the USA and China consume more oil than California," observes Jim Boyd, Vice Chairman of the California Energy Commission. With oil prices soaring, California must reduce its dependency on oil to sustain prosperity and achieve energy security.

As 38 million Californians deploy a range of solutions to reducing oil usage, the world will learn valuable lessons. In 2006, California consumption of gasoline peaked, even though population continues on the path of doubling over a 30 year period.

In California, more people are driving fewer miles; importantly, fewer solo miles. More efficient vehicles are being used, often benefiting from hybrid-electric drive systems. As an alternative to oil, there is a growing use of biofuel, natural gas, hydrogen and renewable electricity.

Solutions to the state's, the national's, and world's transportation needs were presented at the WestStart-CALSTART Clean Heavy Vehicle Conference 2008. Conference Presentations

Many of the solutions were discussed by managers of large fleets. These people can save millions with improvements that passenger vehicle drivers often ignore, such as low-rolling resistance tires. Fleet managers can also install the infrastructure for their fleets; such as fast-charge stations, hydrogen fueling, and specific biofuel blends.

Fleets often pilot new technology years prior to commercialization. Large prototypes are later miniaturized for passenger vehicles. All successful fleets continually improve efficiency. In the transportation lifecycle, 80% of all energy is lost, estimates Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.

John Boesel, President of WestStart-CALSTART, observed that linked trips, public transit, hybrids, and improved mileage vehicles are all factors in peak oil demand in California. Mr. Boesel is in a good position to observe future transportation trends. His organization facilitates bringing together fleet managers, vehicle and fuel producers, researchers, and top government officials.

John Boesel discussed a number of reasons to be optimistic when we talked over lunch. Investment in cleantech and clean transportation is exploding. New lightweight materials are allowing vehicles to travel further with less fuel. There is ongoing innovation in materials. Hybrid-electric drive systems allow heavy mechanical components to be replaced with lighter ones. Engines are being made more efficient. Heavy vehicles that formerly burned fuel during the 40% of the time that they idle, now idle-off. Major corporations and venture capital backed startups are creating next generation biofuels and synthetic fuels.

WestStart-CALSTART encourages public policy makers to set performance standards and not attempt to pick technology winners. Government is also critical in early funding of new fuels and efficient vehicles. "There are many paths to the future," noted John Boesel.

Biofuels will play a major role in reducing California's oil dependency. By law, California AB 2076 requires 20% Alternative Fuels Use in 2020 and 30% alternative Fuels Use in 2030. The bulk of alt-fuels are likely to be biofuel. By law, 40% of that biofuel must be produced in California by 2020 and 75% by 2050. This creates a challenge and an opportunity. California is the nations leading agricultural state. Draughts and reduced snow accumulation are creating water scarcity for farmers. Corn ethanol and soy biodiesel generate tremendous greenhouse gases in their lifecycle of production and consumption.

New low-carbon fuels are being developed including next generation biofuels. In pilot production, gasoline and diesel are being made from synthetic fuels. Next Generation Biofuels

To keep California's $1.5 trillion annual economy from running out of gas, the state is investing $200 million per year in clean transportation for the next 7.5 years. AB118 is the law that makes this possible. The money is funded with vehicle fees.

CEC will fund $120 million/year for the commercialization of alternative fuels and efficient vehicle technologies. The California Air Resources Board will fund $80 million/year for enhanced fleet modernization and an air quality improvement program.

All these initiatives promise to create millions of jobs for a state that continues to grow. Despite a state budget crisis, no one is trying to remove AB118's $200 million annual investment in the future.

With intermodal transportation solutions, integrated freight movement, light materials, hybrid-electric drive systems, efficient vehicles, and new fuels, California is leading the way to control its own destiny without being dependent on foreign oil.

John Addison publishes the Clean Fleet Report.