Did you know that our food choices contribute 34% of global emissions? It’s a powerful reminder of how impactful our daily choices can be on the environment.
To help reduce this impact, we’ve teamed up with Klimato to track the carbon footprint of meals served across SUSU outlets. With this, our goal is to help everyone make informed, conscious choices.
You might have already seen the new labels on Plant Pot menus, and they’re coming soon to the Bridge, Stag’s, and the Shop! These labels, which show each dish’s environmental impact, are backed by data. The team at SUSU meticulously entered recipe details—like ingredient origins, production methods, and quantities—so we can accurately calculate each meal’s climate impact.
Decoding the Klimato Labels
Here’s how the labels work. Each dish label provides:
- Absolute CO2e emissions per serving (kg CO2e per serving)
- A rating (A-E) based on the carbon intensity of a standard 400g meal.
This makes it easy to compare dishes, regardless of portion size. Here’s what the ratings mean:
- Very Low (A): < 0.40 kg CO2e
- Low (B): 0.40 ≤ CO2e < 0.90 kg
- Medium (C): 0.90 ≤ CO2e < 1.80 kg
- High (D): 1.80 ≤ CO2e < 2.60 kg
- Very High (E): ≥ 2.60 kg CO2e
The “Very Low” and “Low” categories align with climate science and support the 2030 and 2050 Paris Agreement goals to keep global warming below 2°C.
What This Means for SUSU
With Klimato’s tracking, we can now measure our food sales’ climate impact. For instance, in March 2024, the Plant Pot’s total carbon footprint was 268.9 kg CO2e—equivalent to 30.1 hours of driving! The average dish had a footprint of 0.51 kg CO2e, much lower than the global average of 1.60 kg CO2e. We’re using these insights to adjust our menus and ingredients to further reduce our impact.
Managing Our Weekly Carbon Food Budget
The “carbon food budget” reflects the total climate impact of our weekly food intake. To meet climate targets, this budget shouldn’t exceed 9.72 kg CO2e weekly. For perspective, one beef burger can account for up to 5 kg CO2e, while our Plant Pot Smash Burger with fries is just 0.42 kg CO2e. The difference between a beef steak and a chicken fillet of the same weight is also huge—5.25 kg CO2e, or the same as driving a diesel car for 28 km!
Next Steps with Klimato
SUSU will continue rolling out Klimato labelling at the Bridge and Stag’s and is working with our sandwich supplier in the Shop to carbon footprint their products, too. We’ll keep running reports and soon publish them online so you can see the impact of our food choices.
Through thoughtful recipe adjustments and ingredient choices, we aim to reduce our environmental footprint without compromising taste. Together, we can make food choices that support a healthier planet!