What are Climate Impact Labels?
Climate Impact labels are the concept that food in shops should have High, Moderate and Low Carbon climate impact labels, stating the status of the foods and whether they are environmentally sustainable.
A recent study from John Hopkins found tested how effective High and low climate impact labels on fast food will have on customers’ decisions and found that:
Menus with a “high climate impact” label on burgers increased non-beef choices by 23% compared to the control group. Menus that included “low climate impact” brands increased non-beef choices, such as a chicken sandwich or a salad, by about 10 per cent more participants than those in the control group.
Could this be Applied in Supermarkets
The Short answer is Yes, however, I have many questions as to how they will assess the sustainability of different products
When referring to the term “environmentally sustainable” there are many variables that go into this such as:
- How water-intensive is the product?
- How many emissions are produced during production?
- Has it caught/gathered whilst minimally affecting its ecosystem?
- The use of artificial fertilizers can have poor long-term effects on the quality of the soil.
Benefits of Climate Impact Labels
Increase Environmentally-friendly behaviours in businesses
As much as this is a more obvious benefit, nevertheless, it’s still necessary to be addressed. Over the past 10 years we are seeing greater transparency amongst all commercial industries, why not food too?
Companies like Everlane and Solios, a clothing and watch wear brand, pride themselves on their transparency to their customers.
Everlane
Everlane breakdown the pricing of their goods by materials, hardware, labour, duties and transport. They also work with other organisations, such as Rainforests Trust. The sustainable materials they use are varied and very purposeful for the materials they used and why.
Solios
Solios, are similar in transparency, in regards to their clear intentions behind their chosen materials and the process that led to it. They also have integrated solar-powered watches and work with rainforests organisations to aid in their carbon offsetting, whilst protecting quintessential ecosystems around the world.
These are only some of the good, these two companies contribute towards. Nevertheless, these policies aren’t as common as they should be and many other businesses can learn a lot from these two companies.
Future of Responsible Business
A lot of businesses, since the industrial revolution has got away with a lot of practices, such as heavy pollution emittance and other unethical practices. To some extent, I get their rationale behind it when money, status and power is the main motivation behind it.
Nevertheless, we have entered a new era of responsible business practices and I can’t wait to see more companies follow in similar footsteps.
We have a growing demand for consumer goods, based on the demand from our society and that’s fine. However, in doing so we need to be aware of large-scale practices and how that’s impacting the very planet we live on. Life will be significantly more difficult if we run out of the very resources we rely to survive on.
Everlane and Solios are but two examples, of these positive, practices. They are not the exemption. We have many amazing companies around the world doing positive things for the planet and shifting consumer interests.
Reducing Consumer’s Environmental Impact
As much as this is a more obvious benefit, nevertheless, it’s still necessary to be addressed. Over the past 10 years we are seeing greater transparency amongst all commercial industries, why not food too?
Considering food accounts for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, it makes sense for this to be a prime target for this. This science suggests that this can change consumer choices.
Simultaneously encouraging ‘healthier’ dietary choices, sounds like a win-win to me.
If we are choosing to buy, cook and consume products that big businesses have spent millions on the production, transportation and distribution process. Consumers know the processes that led to the buying of their goods if they’re exchanging their money for a product.
Is this a lot to ask? I don’t think it is, could just be me.
Conclusion
Overall I think climate Impact labels will be a necessary thing to implement in the future, with growing demands from consumers asking for transparency on the food they are eating.
The food industry is falling behind other industries like the clothing industry when it comes to this transparency and I believe these positive and ethical behaviours should be encouraged across all sectors of industry.
I have a slight caveat as to what “sustainable” means and how they are going to measure it.
Nevertheless, even with arbitrary labelling, this will do the greater good.
This is likely to cause some controversy in those more sceptical of the intentions behind these labels. To combat this they would have to be concise, transparent and very specific as to what would be classified as ‘sustainable’ or not. This will increase consumer confidence in the belief of Climate Impact labels.
I also, don’t believe it would be fair to impose this on small-scale supermarkets/businesses. Only large-scale cooperations. Smaller supermarkets/businesses should be encouraged and maybe even incentivised, but not legally obliged to.
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