Skip to main content
Book cover

Green Technologies in Food Production and Processing pp 211–236Cite as

Food transportation issues and reducing carbon footprint

Part of the Food Engineering Series book series (FSES)

Abstract

Transportation is the largest overall contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in many developed countries. Because food products often travel long distances to reach consumers, one might expect transportation to be the major food-related contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. As we show in this chapter, this is rarely the case. Supply chains tend to be long and complex, especially in the food industry. We provide an overview of supply chain basics and the special issues related to transport and storage of food from the point of production to the retail shelf. We include a variety of carbon audits and discuss the lessons learned from several industry case studies. We evaluate several options for packaging and distributing food and beverage products. We also consider interactions and trade-offs associated with these options. In carrying out these analyses, we are often able to identify opportunities for significant energy savings and overall greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Keywords

  • Supply Chain
  • Carbon Emission
  • Food Waste
  • Carbon Footprint
  • Distribution Center

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
EUR   29.95
Price includes VAT (Finland)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-1587-9_9
  • Chapter length: 26 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
EUR   117.69
Price includes VAT (Finland)
  • ISBN: 978-1-4614-1587-9
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Softcover Book
EUR   154.19
Price includes VAT (Finland)
Hardcover Book
EUR   186.99
Price includes VAT (Finland)
Learn about institutional subscriptions
Fig. 9.1
Fig. 9.2
Fig. 9.3
Fig. 9.4
Fig. 9.5
Fig. 9.6
Fig. 9.7
Fig. 9.8
Fig. 9.9
Fig. 9.10
Fig. 9.11

References

  • Bradley, P. 2010. An inside look at Jackson Family Wines’ new eco-friendly warehouse. http://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/20100222inside_an_eco_friendly_dc/. Accessed 15 May 2010.

  • Browne, M., C. Rizet, S. Anderson, J. Allen, and B. Keita. 2005. Life cycle assessment in the supply chain: A review and case study. Transport Reviews 25(6): 761–782.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • BSI Group. 2008. PAS 2050:2008—Specification for the assessment of the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services. http://www.bsigroup.com/en/Standards-and-Publications/Industry-Sectors/Energy/PAS-2050/. Accessed 18 Mar 2009.

  • Carlsson-Kanyama, A. 1998. Climate change and dietary choices—How can emissions of greenhouse gases from food consumption be reduced? Food Policy 23(3–4): 277–293.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson-Kanyama, A., M.P. Ekström, and H. Shanahan. 2003. Food and life cycle energy inputs: Consequences of diet and ways to increase efficiency. Ecological Economics 44(2–3): 293–307.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Cholette, S., and K. Venkat. 2009. The energy and carbon intensity of wine distribution: A study of logistical options for delivering wine to consumers. Journal of Cleaner Production 17(16): 1401–1413.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • CleanMetrics. 2010. http://www.cleanmetrics.com. Accessed 18 Sep 2010.

  • Constar. 2010. Sustainability analysis for PET food jars. http://www.constar.net/pdf/Convert-It_Analysis_Example.pdf. Accessed 24 June 2010.

  • DOE. 2009. U.S. CO2 emissions from energy sources 2008 flash estimate. http://www.eia.doe.gov/. Accessed 20 Jan 2010.

  • Golicic, S., C. Boerstler, and L. Ellram. 2010. Greening transportation in the supply chain. MIT Sloan Management Review 51(2): 47–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller, M., and G. Keoleian. 2000. Life cycle-based sustainability indicators for assessment of the U.S. food system [CSS00-04]. Ann Arbor: Center for Sustainable Systems, School of Natural Resources and Environment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hospido, A., L. Milà i Canals, S. McLauren, et al. 2009. The role of seasonality in lettuce consumption: A case study of environmental and social aspects. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 14: 381–391.

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2009. 2006 IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/index.html. Accessed 18 Mar 2009.

  • International Standards Organization. 2009. ISO 14040: 2006 Environmental management–life cycle assessment–Principles and framework (2). http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber = 37456. Accessed 18 Mar 2009.

  • Jog, S. 2010 Optimizing the logistics of farmer’s markets: A carbon footprint study. Master’s thesis, San Francisco State University, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E. 2008. Disagreement over carbon footprints: A comparison of electric and LPG forklifts. Energy Policy 36(4): 1569–1573.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Milà i Canals, L., S.J. Cowell, S. Sim, and L. Basson. 2007. Comparing domestic versus imported apples: A focus on energy use. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 14(5): 338–344.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Pirog, R., T. Van Pelt, K. Ensayan, and E. Cook. 2001. Food, fuel and freeways: An Iowa perspective on how far food travels, fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. Ames: Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

    Google Scholar 

  • Point, E. 2008. Life cycle environmental impacts of wine production and consumption in Nova Scotia, Canada. Master’s thesis, Dalhousie University, Halifax.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pullman, M., R. Fenske, and W. Wakeland. 2009. Food delivery footprint: Addressing transportation, packaging, and waste in the food supply chain. OTREC Research Report, RR-08-154, Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, March 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, E. 2009. To cut global warming, Swedes study their plates. The New York Times, 23 Oct 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, C., and A. Barber. 2007. Comparative energy and greenhouse gas emissions of New Zealand’s and the United Kingdom’s dairy industry. Christchurch: Lincoln University. AERU Research Report No. 297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, C., A. Barber, and G. Taylor. 2006. Food miles—Comparative energy/emissions performance of New Zealand’s agriculture industry. Christchurch: Lincoln University. AERU Research Report No. 285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlich, E. 2010. From vineyard to point of sale: Allocation of energy use and CO2 emission to entire supply chains of wine. In 4th annual meeting of American association of wine economists (AAWE). Davis, CA, June 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlich, E., and U. Fleissner. 2005. The ecology of scale: Assessment of regional energy turnover and comparison with global food. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 10(3): 219–223.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz, A., U. Sonesson, and P. Tyedmers. 2009. Catch of the freezer. The New York Times, 8 Dec 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sim, S., M. Barry, R. Clift, and S.J. Cowell. 2007. The relative importance of transport in determining an appropriate sustainability strategy for food sourcing. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 12(6): 422–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, D., and R. Mason. 2002. Environmental and transport supply chain evaluation with sustainable value stream mapping. In Proceedings of the 7th logistics research network conference, Birmingham, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Twede, D., R. Clarke, and J. Tait. 2000. Packaging postponement: A global packaging strategy. Packaging Technology and Science 13(1): 105–115.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • United States. Department of Agriculture. 2008. Loss-adjusted food availability: Spreadsheets. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/foodconsumption/FoodGuideSpreadsheets.htm. Accessed 10 Sep 2010.

  • Van Hauwermeiren, A., H. Coene, G. Engelen, and E. Mathijs. 2007. Energy lifecycle inputs in food systems: A comparison of local versus mainstream cases. Journal of Environmental Policy Plan 9(1): 31–51.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Venkat, K. 2008. CargoScope web software tool. http://www.cleanmetrics.com/html/cargoscope.htm. Accessed 18 Mar 2009.

  • Venkat, K. 2009. CarbonScope web software tool. http://www.cleanmetrics.com/html/carbonscope.htm. Accessed 18 Mar 2009.

  • Venkat, K., and W. Wakeland. 2006. Is lean necessarily green? In 50th anniversary conference of the international society for the systems sciences, Sonoma, CA, July 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, C.L., and H.S. Matthews. 2008. Food-miles and the relative climate impacts of food choices in the United States. Environmental Science and Technology 42(10): 3508–3513.

    CrossRef  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Resources Institute. 2004. Greenhouse gas protocol, a corporate accounting and reporting standard. http://www.ghgprotocol.org/files/ghgp/public/ghg-protocol-revised.pdf. Accessed 20 June 2009.

  • Worthen, B. 2010. Farmers’ markets see risk from growth. Wall Street Journal, 11 Feb 2010. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704533204575048000839268376.html. Accessed 10 Mar 2010.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA

    Wayne Wakeland

  2. San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Susan Cholette

  3. CleanMetrics Corporation, Portland, OR, USA

    Kumar Venkat

Authors
  1. Wayne Wakeland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susan Cholette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kumar Venkat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wayne Wakeland .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Food Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Casavant Boulevard W. 3600, St.-Hyacinthe, J2S 8E3, Québec, Canada

    Joyce I. Boye

  2. Food Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Casavant Boulevard W. 3600, St.-Hyacinthe, J2S 8E3, Québec, Canada

    Yves Arcand

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Her Majesty the Queen, in Right of Canada

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wakeland, W., Cholette, S., Venkat, K. (2012). Food transportation issues and reducing carbon footprint. In: Boye, J., Arcand, Y. (eds) Green Technologies in Food Production and Processing. Food Engineering Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1587-9_9

Download citation