Environmental Impact: Waste, Packaging and Carbon Footprint

This lesson covers the environmental impact of food production, including food waste, packaging and carbon footprint, as required by the AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition specification (8585), section 3.6.

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Food Waste

Food waste is a major environmental and economic problem. In the UK alone, approximately 9.5 million tonnes of food is wasted annually (WRAP data). This waste occurs at every stage of the food supply chain.

Where Food Waste Occurs

Stage	Examples	Approximate UK Share
Farm/Production	Crops left unharvested (cosmetic standards reject "ugly" produce); overproduction; weather damage	~15%
Processing/Manufacturing	Trimmings, offcuts, production errors, date-marking waste	~15%
Retail	Unsold products reaching use-by dates; over-ordering; damaged packaging	~5%
Household (consumer)	Cooking too much; not using leftovers; not checking cupboards before shopping; confusion over date marks	~65% — the largest share

Exam Tip: The majority of food waste occurs in households, not in shops or factories. This is an important point because it means individual actions can make a significant difference.

Environmental Impact of Food Waste

Impact	Explanation
Greenhouse gases	Food waste in landfill decomposes anaerobically, producing methane — a greenhouse gas approximately 25 times more potent than CO₂
Wasted resources	All the water, energy, land and labour used to produce the food is also wasted
Wasted carbon	The entire carbon footprint of producing and transporting the food is pointless if the food is thrown away
Landfill pressure	Food waste takes up significant space in landfills
Water waste	Agriculture uses about 70% of global freshwater — wasting food wastes water

Reducing Food Waste

Strategy	How It Helps
Meal planning	Plan meals for the week; write a shopping list; buy only what you need
Correct storage	Store food properly to extend its life (correct fridge temperature, sealed containers)
Understand date marks	Use-by = safety; best-before = quality. Food past its best-before date is often still good to eat
Use leftovers	Turn leftover vegetables into soup; use leftover rice for fried rice; freeze surplus portions
Correct portion sizes	Cook the right amount; use measuring tools
First In, First Out (FIFO)	Use oldest items first
Composting	Compost fruit and vegetable peelings rather than sending them to landfill
Food sharing apps	Apps like Olio and Too Good To Go connect people with surplus food
"Ugly" vegetable boxes	Services selling cosmetically imperfect produce at reduced prices

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Packaging

Food packaging serves important functions but also creates significant environmental problems.

Functions of Packaging

Function	Example
Protection	Prevents physical damage during transport and storage
Preservation	Modified atmosphere packaging extends shelf life; vacuum packing prevents oxidation
Information	Labels provide ingredients, allergens, nutritional info, date marks, cooking instructions
Hygiene	Keeps food clean and free from contamination
Convenience	Portion sizes, resealable packaging, microwave-safe containers
Marketing	Branding, attractive design, promotional information
Tamper evidence	Sealed containers show if the product has been opened

Types of Packaging and Their Environmental Impact

Material	Advantages	Disadvantages
Plastic	Lightweight; cheap; versatile; good barrier properties	Non-biodegradable; pollutes oceans; made from fossil fuels; difficult to recycle (many types)
Glass	Reusable; recyclable; inert (does not react with food); premium appearance	Heavy (high transport emissions); energy-intensive to manufacture; fragile
Metal (aluminium/steel)	Highly recyclable; excellent barrier; lightweight (aluminium); long shelf life for canned food	Energy-intensive to produce from raw materials (though recycling uses much less energy)
Cardboard/Paper	Biodegradable; recyclable; renewable resource; lightweight	Not waterproof; less protective; may be lined with plastic (making recycling harder)
Biodegradable packaging	Breaks down naturally; made from renewable resources (corn starch, sugarcane)	May require industrial composting; not always accepted in home composting; can be more expensive

flowchart TD
    A["Packaging<br/>Hierarchy"] --> B["REDUCE<br/>Use less packaging"]
    B --> C["REUSE<br/>Use containers again"]
    C --> D["RECYCLE<br/>Process into new materials"]
    D --> E["RECOVER<br/>Energy from waste<br/>(incineration)"]
    E --> F["LANDFILL<br/>Last resort"]

    style B fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style C fill:#2ecc71,color:#fff
    style D fill:#f39c12,color:#fff
    style E fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
    style F fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff

The Packaging Waste Hierarchy