Food Miles: How Far Will You Go to Reach Net Zero?

Picture this: It’s the middle of winter and the sun has finally made its long-anticipated appearance. The brighter weather makes you crave something other than beige comfort food for lunch. Incidentally, a fresh salad brimming with colour and crunch feels like it would do just the trick.

Happy with your healthier meal decision (and feeling slightly smug in the process), you write down your shopping list of green beans, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and romaine lettuce before jumping in the car.

Despite none of these ingredients being in season, you manage to locate all of them in their designated positions on the supermarket shelves. And within an hour, you’re at home tucking into a tuna Niçoise that takes you instantly back to your French holiday last summer. Sounds like just a typical weekday activity, right? 

That’s because seasonality is irrelevant when it comes to satisfying our everyday cravings. This convenient level of availability is exactly what we have become accustomed to over the years. Whether it’s strawberries in December or brussels sprouts in July, we now have access to all the food we want, all year round.

These foods have travelled thousands of miles before arriving (pretty much) on our doorstep. What’s more, studies have shown that food transport accounts for 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That’s three times more than was previously estimated. So, can we all rely on food miles as an accurate measure of sustainability? 

Read ahead to discover the facts you need to know so that you can start to get ‘on board’ with decarbonising your diet, for good. 

Simply put, the term ‘food miles’ refers to how far your food has come before it can be served up on the kitchen table. It’s basically an accessible way of indicating the distance travelled, and the products’ origin. 

It’s important not to dismiss the other factors that can impact food miles. These include the carbon intensity of the mode of transport (air, ship, lorries), how it’s grown during specific seasons, and the package production process. 

 When you think of food miles, it’s easy to assume this encapsulates the distance it travelled from another country. But what about once they touch down on British soil?

Moving food accounts for a quarter of the miles travelled by heavy goods here in the UK, according to a DEFRA report. These add up to 19 million tonnes of CO2 every year. When you think that this equals 5.5 million petrol and diesel cars, it’s no wonder the food and drink industry is one of the biggest carbon emitters.

You may have heard about the 2030 petrol and diesel ban - meaning all new cars will be fully electric. If more manufacturers and suppliers made this switch, we may well see this carbon impact decrease over time. 

Then there’s us: the consumers. We travel an average of 135 miles a year in the car just to grab our daily (or weekly) food necessities. There’s plenty to be said for travelling by foot or bike to cut down on those carbon calories.

While for many this isn’t an accessible option, some UK councils have plans to bring 15-minute cities to life. This essentially means residents have everything they need within a 15-minute walk or cycle - including the local supermarket. Head over here to learn more. What Do 15-Minute Cities Mean for UK Drivers? (drive-electric.co.uk)

But does this mean we need to completely home in on staying local to speed up our sustainable food journey? Not so fast. While being conscious of food miles is a smart move, experts have suggested that often it’s more about what we eat than where we eat it from.