The online Carbon Calculator

Citation

(2010), "The online Carbon Calculator", International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 2 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm.2010.41402dag.001

The online Carbon Calculator

Article Type: News from the net From: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Volume 2, Issue 4

A new carbon footprinting tool, developed by researchers at the University of Manchester, suggests that lamb curry ready-made meals eaten in the UK amount to an annual carbon footprint equivalent to 5,500 car trips around the world or 140 million car miles.

The estimates are based on the figure of 30 per cent of adults in the UK who eat ready-made meals at least once a week. Curry is one of the nation’s favourites, accounting for up to 10 per cent of ready-made sales – which have soared during the recession. The academics found that the fast food meal generates the equivalent of 4.3 kg of carbon dioxide emissions per person. The meal’s ingredients are responsible for 65 per cent of the carbon footprint, with lamb contributing half of the total.

Meal manufacture contributes on average 14 per cent and packaging 4 per cent of the total carbon footprint. The contribution of transport is small at 2 per cent. However, storage at the retailer contributes 16 per cent. The £1 m project is funded by the Carbon Trust, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council. In addition to food products, the CCaLC carbon footprinting tool can be used for the estimation of carbon footprints of other products, including packaging, biofuels and various chemicals. Details can be seen at: www.nerc.ac.uk/press/releases/2010/22-curry.asp