Because we want to measure the climate impact of food products – and when it comes to food, carbon dioxide is actually of minor importance.
The majority of emissions in the food industry come from nitrous oxide and methane – or at the agricultural stage – and the term carbon footprint does not effectively capture this for the food industry. In fact, it misleads people to think that carbon dioxide is the only greenhouse gas the calculation measures.
That is why we insist on the inclusive term climate footprint – because it manifests in actions and determines the climate strategy. The term climate footprint correctly encompasses where the emissions come from, what the impact is, and vocalises the potential to reduce emissions. This is where the term carbon footprint falls short because it sends the message that we only focus on carbon.
Effective climate strategy starts with the right words!