Dining For A Cooler Planet
Low-carbon dining refers to making food choices that have low greenhouse gas emissions associated with their life cycle. Some examples of low-carbon foods are: nuts, soys products, local vegetables, and dairy alternatives. Some food on the high end of carbon impact are: beef, lamb, cheese, chocolate, and coffee.
UMass Dining Sustainability team is highlighting low carbon dining options because students have expressed that the climate crisis informs their decision making and want to reduce their carbon footprint. Since global food production accounts for nearly 1/3 of all greenhouse gas emissions, switching to low-carbon dining is a highly impactful way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
UMASS Dining - My Emissions |
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UMass Dining has partnered with My Emissions to evaluate recipes and assign an A-E rating scale based on each dish's overall carbon impact. The carbon impact of each dish on the menu is calculated based on a comprehensive life cycle assessment. This life cycle assessment takes into account each food's specific journey, including where and how it's farmed, transported, and packaged. Based on this emission calculation, each dish is then rated on a scale of A-E in which A-rated dishes have the lowest carbon footprint and E-rated dishes have the highest carbon footprint.
A-E Carbon Footprint Ratings
MENU IDENTIFIERS
As a part of our Dining for a Cooler Planet initiative we are adding carbon footprint ratings to our menu identifiers so students can easily see the carbon footprint of their food choices.
In the Fall, we surveyed over 800 UMass student and asked how they felt about climate action and sustainability in the dining commons. The results showed a clear student incentive to reduce their personal carbon footprints which drove us to add a carbon rating to our menu Identifiers to make low carbon dining easier for students . It is estimated that the United States food systems accounts for approximately 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Global food production accounts for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Why not turn your everyday food decisions into climate action.
In the Fall, we surveyed over 800 UMass student and asked how they felt about climate action and sustainability in the dining commons. The results showed a clear student incentive to reduce their personal carbon footprints which drove us to add a carbon rating to our menu Identifiers to make low carbon dining easier for students . It is estimated that the United States food systems accounts for approximately 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Global food production accounts for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Why not turn your everyday food decisions into climate action.
This new system makes it easier to consider the carbon impact of the food in the dining commons and find routine ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your food choices. We do not expect every student to completely change what they eat, just have the information they need to reduce their carbon footprint with the food they are choosing everyday. Small changes, can make a big difference.
The rating system began with featured A-Rated dishes at Hampshire Dining Commons and Worcester Commons. In the spring of 2022, the pilot for all the dishes at Hampshire DC launched, and in the Fall of 2022, the carbon rating system will spread to the other DCs and student can find them on the menu identifiers, the UMass Dining app, and online!
The rating system began with featured A-Rated dishes at Hampshire Dining Commons and Worcester Commons. In the spring of 2022, the pilot for all the dishes at Hampshire DC launched, and in the Fall of 2022, the carbon rating system will spread to the other DCs and student can find them on the menu identifiers, the UMass Dining app, and online!
PHASES OF THIS INITIATIVE
Phase 1: Starting the first week of April, we will begin highlighting 30 dishes that are A-rated, low carbon options on the menu in a couple select areas.
Phase 2: During the last 3 weeks of the Spring 2022 semester, dishes served at Hampshire Dining Commons will feature a carbon footprint rating.
Phase 3: Starting in the Fall of 2022, all residential dining menus will include a carbon footprint rating.
Phase 2: During the last 3 weeks of the Spring 2022 semester, dishes served at Hampshire Dining Commons will feature a carbon footprint rating.
Phase 3: Starting in the Fall of 2022, all residential dining menus will include a carbon footprint rating.
Menu Identifiers shown on the UMass Dining app.
LOW CARBON FOOD
Foods that are able to be able grown, prepared , sourced, processed and transported in ways that emit minimal greenhouse gas into the atmosphere are considered low-carbon foods. Some foods have a lower carbon footprint than others. Our new labels will make it easy for our customers to be aware of the carbon impact of their food choices.
Plant forward dining greatly reduces one's carbon footprint. Reducing your intake of high-carbon foods, such as beef and lamb, and switching to less carbon intensive meats can have major impacts. Small changes make a difference. Start by knowing the carbon rating of your food choices and try out some new A-Rated dishes from our broad range of options. It's as easy as A, B, C.
Plant forward dining greatly reduces one's carbon footprint. Reducing your intake of high-carbon foods, such as beef and lamb, and switching to less carbon intensive meats can have major impacts. Small changes make a difference. Start by knowing the carbon rating of your food choices and try out some new A-Rated dishes from our broad range of options. It's as easy as A, B, C.
LOW CARBON HEROS ON THE MENU
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A low carbon hero is a food that may not only have a minimal impact on the greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain, but also has the potential to have a positive environmental impact.
Click here to find out more. |
Test your knowledge!
If you want to know more about the emissions of food and tips on making climate choices, please take this quiz. Carbon Footprint of Food Quiz |