Project Ideas: Sustainable Food

While we must all eat, there is great variation in the emissions impacts of the foods we choose to eat. Would the introduction of a climate-impact food label and communication tool help patrons make more sustainable food choices?

Food production, transportation, processing, packaging and disposal are also responsible for significant environmental impacts. And when it comes to climate change, food is responsible for over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, with animal-based foods being responsible for much of those emissions. So what can we do here at the University of Waterloo to promote sustainable food?

Food services currently uses natural gas for much of its cooking. With natural gas being the single largest source of energy emissions, is there a way to transition to electrified alternatives?

Consumers are often unaware or have misconceptions about the magnitude and factors that contribute to the environmental footprint of their food choices. How do we effectively communicate this to the public?