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The UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published a new BSI Publicly Available Specification – a new standard method for assessing carbon footprint for the food industry across the UK.

An ongoing project commissioned by Defra, and led by environmental and agricultural consultancy ADAS, has informed the development of the BSI Publicly Available Specification (PAS 2050) for assessing the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of goods and services – enabling all food businesses to use a consistent approach to assessing product carbon footprints.

Food businesses feeling the strain of particularly tough trading conditions will welcome the benefits of employing the PAS standard, as those involved in manufacture and supply will now be able to identify carbon 'hotspots', implement cost-saving efficiency gains and invest in innovative low-carbon solutions.

The industry is also under increasing pressure from the government and retail customers to meet ambitious targets for carbon reduction. Prior to the publication of PAS 2050, there was no widely accepted standard method for testing GHG emissions of products and services, and there has been confusion surrounding what should and shouldn't be included. The availability of a reliable, fully tested method is likely to be of significant interest not only to the food industry but also to the consumer.

The application of PAS 2050 will reveal a wealth of new information about the sustainability of food chains, and could lead to major changes across the food supply network in a drive towards carbon reduction and increased efficiency in terms of the way food is produced, manufactured, supplied, distributed, retailed and used.

ADAS Senior Consultant Jeremy Wiltshire said: "The PAS is an extremely valuable tool which will enable us to analyse the global warming potential of all food production systems, whether organic or conventional, UK or international, present or future. It's a major milestone in the move towards a low-carbon economy, and immediately allows businesses to develop strategies that drive down emissions."

Wiltshire continued: "Following the assessment of a carbon footprint using PAS 2050, strategies to decrease GHG emissions will usually lead to cost savings for a food producer. However, it's important that strategies to decrease emissions also account for wider environmental implications such as water use."

James Clarke, ADAS Business Development Manager, said: "This provides an important tool for the food chain to assess its carbon impact and drive business improvement. Assessing a carbon footprint can identify opportunities and priorities for business to significantly improve productive efficiency, energy efficiency and waste minimisation, thereby saving costs."

The Defra-funded research project, which commenced in November last year, also drew on support from <1>, <2>, the <3> environmental consultancy and <4>.

ADAS is holding a conference next month to offer advice and strategic guidance to the food and farming industry, on the benefits of assessing carbon footprinting for business, the practical application of PAS 2050, and approaches to working together effectively.

"It's important that the food chain now works together to ensure that footprints are assessed in a cost-effective and representative manner. The ADAS Carbon Conference will aim to start this process," added Clarke.

<1>: http://www.campden.co.uk <2>: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk <3>: http://www.eugeos.co.uk <4>: http://www.northwyke.bbsrc.ac.uk