A Swedish fast-food chain, called Max Burger, is trying to discourage people from eating too much meat by publishing the carbon footprint of each item on its menu.
From the methane produced by the cows, to the machinery used on the farm, through to the emissions produced by the slaughterhouses and the trucks that deliver the meat all over the country - the weight of CO2 represents the carbon footprint of that meal.
Beef production emits high levels of carbon dioxide when compared to other foods. So why on Earth does a restaurant chain that sells mainly beef want to advertise how bad its products are for the planet? They insist they are not “shooting themselves in the foot” and are quick to point out the “less-meat products” on the menu, such as a falafel burger and a half beef/half soy burger.
“We think you need to be honest with the customer. We hope to change the whole of the fast-food industry by this,” their spokesman said. “We want people to eat less meat.”
Max Burgers’ carbon labels are getting them a lot of publicity and seem to epitomise the country’s enthusiasm for environmental food labeling. A recent survey in Sweden found that 92% of people wanted more information about the “green credentials” of the food they were buying.
Currently, two food organizations in Sweden are working on “climate labels” that are designed to set a simple environmental benchmark for food production in Sweden. If the new Swedish labels are a success, they fully expect to see them copied in other countries around the world.
Carbon labeling on products began four years ago in Britain:
FYI:
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Breakfast: Oatmeal
Lunch: Vegetable soup & saltine crackers
Dinner: Chipotle veggie bowl (no meat = free guac!)
