The impact of household food consumption on resource and energy management

Abstract

How can private households contribute to a more resource-efficient food production system? The importance of meat consumption has previously been highlighted. Various life-cycle analysis studies suggest which products are favourable from an ecological point of view. This study uses a material flux analysis to assess material and energy fluxes of the entire system of food production and consumption. It compares different steps in production and consumption as well as different product categories. The results reveal that agricultural production and private households account for most of the system's energy requirements. The outcomes of two possible initiatives taken by private households are analysed by scenario calculation. It compares optimization of technical devices in private households with purchase decisions that favour organically produced food products. The results reveal an astonishing optimization potential of cooling devices in private households. However, it also shows the importance of specific parameters, such as the energy-mix coefficient.

Toward a Sustainability Label for Food Products: An Analysis of Experts' and Consumers' Acceptance

“…Using this modularized approach, Jungbluth calculated environmental impacts for meat and vegetables. The results show that the modules product category Faist 2000;Seemüller 2000;Faist, Kytzia, and Baccini 2001;Gerbens-Leenes, Nonhebel, and Ivens 2002). High environmental impacts were also identified for the greenhouse production of plant foods and for fresh products transported by air.…”

Economically extended—MFA: a material flow approach for a better understanding of food production chain

“…electricity supply systems) as well as the mix of energy products (see also [44]). Their influence on the overall energy consumption in Switzerland is even higher because they affect all human activities (transport, housing, work, leisure, etc.…”

Urban Food Consumption in Metro Manila: Interdisciplinary Approaches Towards Apprehending Practices, Patterns, and Impacts

“…In Switzerland, food packaging is measured to make up only around 7% of the weight of sold food (Faist et al. ), although this does not account for food sold in the dining sector. Whereas environmental impacts of food packaging are significant, its role in keeping food safe and unspoilt is important: Food packaging can be important in reducing the total LCEI of a food product (Andersson et al.…”

“…In contrast, food packaging is seen to be of minor importance in terms of LCEIs . In Switzerland, food packaging is measured to make up only around 7% of the weight of sold food (Faist et al 2001), although this does not account for food sold in the dining sector. Whereas environmental impacts of food packaging are significant, its role in keeping food safe and unspoilt is important: Food packaging can be important in reducing the total LCEI of a food product (Andersson et al 1998;Williams et al 2012), particularly in cases where the environmental impact of the food is relatively higher than its packaging, as is the case with perishable foods such as cheese or bread.…”