Monday, 21 November 2022
The University of Nottingham is introducing carbon labels on its food menus in a new effort to support Nottingham’s carbon neutral targets and increase the university’s sustainability.
Nottingham will be the first university in the Midlands to roll this campaign out, starting with trials in its catered halls, as well as Japanese restaurant Saijokai and Café Mama’s in Portland Building on University Park.
The carbon labelling, which uses three different levels to identify the carbon footprint of its meals, will help staff and students on campus understand the carbon impact of their food choices.
The food industry currently accounts for 28 per cent of global emissions, and around 8 per cent of the university’s total carbon footprint.
The University of Nottingham has partnered with Klimato to climate label its menus, helping staff and students choose planet-friendly meals that contribute to reducing the climate impact from food.
The climate labels display the carbon footprint of each meal in kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent), which equals the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions from that dish. The carbon footprint is calculated based on ingredients, production method and country of origin using a method called Life Cycle Assessment. The label also indicates whether the carbon footprint of each dish is equivalent to a low, medium or high climate impact.
Sarah Cawthorne, Environment Officer from the Sustainability team at the University of Nottingham, said: “We wanted to give staff and students the opportunity to see the carbon impact of their food and also make an informed choice.
“Young people nowadays are becoming more aware of the consequences of their choices. As a student living in catered accommodation, there’s a limit to what you can do yourself; although food is such an individual choice, this shows that you can make a difference with it.
I’m hoping it will empower them to feel like they can make a small change.
The three levels included on the labels are as follows:
Low (0.1 - 0.5 kg CO2e)
Choose meals with a low climate impact to eat within the planetary boundaries and contribute to reducing emissions from food in line with the UN’s climate goals.
Medium (0.6 - 1.5 kg CO2e)
Meals with a medium climate impact have a carbon footprint comparable to the average lunch or dinner in the UK, which is roughly 1.6kg CO2e.
High (1.6+ kg CO2e)
Meals with a high climate impact have a higher carbon footprint compared to the average lunch or dinner in the UK today.
Image below credit: Klimato
In the UK today, an average lunch or dinner has a carbon footprint of roughly 1.6 kg CO2e. According to WWF, this number should not exceed 0.5 kg CO2e in order to reach the UN’s climate goals defined in the Paris Agreement.
The new menus are now live in catered halls and in restaurants Portland Saijokai and Café Mama’s. If the trials are successful, it will then be introduced into other catered outlets.
Other universities currently using Klimato carbon labels are: University of Bristol, University of Manchester, University of Reading, Falmouth University, University of Exeter, Chrurchill College (University of Cambridge) and Glasgow Caledonian University.
Read more about Klimato and how they calculate the carbon footprint of food at https://klimato.co/
Story credits
More information is available from Sarah Cawthorne at the Estates Office at sarah.cawthorne@nottingham.ac.uk
Faith Pring - Media Relations Manager
Email: faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Phone: 0115 748 4411
Location: University of Nottingham, University Park
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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