FAQ
Our answers on the FAQs.
Food & Climate
What are the problems surrounding food & the environment / climate?
Food has a negative impact on the climate due to the emissions of greenhouse gases that are released during the production, transport and eating process. More than a quarter of total greenhouse gas emissions come from the global food system.
In addition, food production uses an extremely large portion of the available land and water, causing other environmental problems.
Read here more about food & climate problems.
Why a site about food and the climate? Don't other processes burden the environment much more?
Food is responsible for more than a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the technological solutions for reducing the climate impact of the food system are much less clear than those in other sectors. The problem is also getting worse due to the growing population and overconsumption. Reducing food emissions will therefore be one of our most important climate challenges in the coming decades.
What is the most important impact factor: CO2, water or land?
CO2eq is the most important factor for global warming, but this does not mean that the other factors are not important. Land use and water consumption also cause many climate-related problems, read more here.
What should I do to reduce the climate impact of my diet?
Have a look at our tips page for the best tips!
Should I become a vegetarian / vegan?
As can be read on our meat comparison page, vegetarian and vegan choiches are in general the best choices for the climate. But the best choice for the environment is not always the most delicious choice. In addition, a varied and healthy diet is important. And of course there are other foods that are sometimes just as impactful as meat and dairy. The choice is yours, but we are happy to help you to give you an honest insight into this choice. Search for dishes or foods to learn about your choices and for concrete improvement tips to help save our planet!
Our Data
Where does the data come from?
De data of the foods on this site mainly comes from the Dutch institute RIVM, which assigned the process to Blonk Consultants.
The data is based on the average supply of these products on the Dutch market. The dishes are then composed by us from these foods.
For other information on this site, we have tried to use as much as possible the most recent scientific information. Plus, we are working hard on extending the data on the site with other trustworthy sources.
How are the emission numbers calculated?
The figures are compiled by means of a so-called Life Cycle Analysis of a food. This means that the environmental impact is calculated based on the emissions across the entire chain (from the agricultural fields to your kitchen).
Source: RIVM: https://www.rivm.nl/voedsel-en-voeding/duurzaam-voedsel/database-milieubelasting-voedingsmiddelen
What does the star score mean for the foods / dishes?
Based on the data in our datasets of the foods and dishes, we give a ‘star score’ (1-5) to each dish and food for the 3 factors (CO2eq, water and land).
A 5 stars means that a product / dish belongs to the best 20% dishes / foods of that respective impact factor. With a 1 star score, a dish belongs to the worst 20%.
I cannot find a food type or meal on the site?
Currently we have only included data of the Dutch institution the RIVM, who at the moment only published data of the +-230 most used foods in the Netherlands. This means that many food types are still missing. We are working hard on finding more reliable data sources to add new food types to our site. But as we only wish to use scientific numbers, this does take a while.
But our datasets will definitely grow in the future!
Where does the 'eq' in CO2eq stand for?
In the data on the amount of CO2 emissions for foods or melas, we always assume CO2eq, which stands for CO2 equivalents. This is the scientific way of comparing various greenhouse gases based on their Global Warming Potential. The CO2 number therefore also takes into account the emissions of, for example, nitrogen dioxide, methane and the relative impact of these gases on global warming.
About FoodFootprint
I have a feedback, suggestions or other ideas for your site, what should I do?
Feedback is always welcome! We are very curious about your opinion or nice ideas to increase the impact of our site. Mail us at: info@foodfootprint.nl
I have an idea for a collaboration!
Do you have a cool idea for a collaboration? We would love to hear from you! By increasing the reach of climate sites, we can hopefully solve the climate problem together. We also have many ideas for collaborations ourselves. Feel free to contact us via: info@foodfootprint.nl