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Students at the ACCA Cafe

Sussex Uni Food is excited to announce the introduction of carbon labels to our menus, starting with the ACCA Cafe. This groundbreaking initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and aims to equip everyone in the community with the tools to make informed choices about the food they consume.

You’ll see labels ranging from A to E alongside items on our menus, each accompanied by a traffic light colour system for easy identification. An 'A' rating indicates a low carbon rating, while an 'E' indicates a higher carbon intensity.

Exploring the labels: what do they mean?

Partnering with Foodsteps, a UK-based startup dedicated to providing solutions for measuring and reducing food's environmental impact, we want to help pioneer a new way to understand the carbon footprint of the food we serve.

Utilising Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) data, Foodsteps analyses various stages of food production, from the farm stage up to the retail stage (including any processing, packaging, and transport in-between), to provide comprehensive insights into each ingredient’s environmental impact.

It's important to note that while carbon footprint scores are a significant aspect of food sustainability, they don't capture the full picture. Other factors such as land and water use, pollution, fair pay and food security are equally crucial. However, the carbon intensity rating system introduced by Foodsteps offers a standardised way to compare products based on their carbon emissions per kilogram of food produced.

The A-E ratings assigned to each food item are aligned with the global carbon budget set by the EAT-Lancet Commission, aiming to keep our planet within a safe operating space outlined in the Paris Agreement. By providing consumers with this information, we empower individuals to make choices that align with their values and contribute to reducing their overall carbon footprint.

Balancing act: beyond food choices

Importantly, our intention with this initiative is not to induce feelings of shame or guilt. Rather, we aim to foster open and informed discussions about food choices and the sustainability of the broader food system. We recognise that each person's dietary preferences and circumstances vary, and our goal is to provide transparent information to guide conscious decision-making.

The food we eat is linked to one-third of all carbon emissions in the world. However, it's just one piece of the puzzle. Our daily activities, from transportation to shopping habits and waste management, all contribute to our carbon footprint.

By considering the broader implications of our daily decisions, we can work towards a more balanced approach to sustainability. While food choices are undoubtedly important, integrating sustainable practices into various aspects of our lives allows us to maximise our impact and contribute to a healthier planet.

As we start the carbon labelling journey, we acknowledge that behaviour change may take time, and the impact of the labels remains uncertain. We are committed to gathering feedback and insights from all the community to refine and expand this initiative across all our cafes.

Sandra Juan-Delgado is the Sustainability Manager for Sussex Uni Food.