Every day, we eat food. It is something we all need to survive. Here are some things I ate on the 25th of November , and how they affect the environment. This is important because the choices we make today will influence the future for us and all the generations to come.
1. Cheerios
- Whole Grain Oats- Whole grain oats are probably imported to Minnesota by truck from Canada, producing 272 kg of CO2 emissions per truckload.
- Wheat Starch- Wheat Starch is probably driven to Minnesota by truck from Iowa, producing 344 kg of CO2 emissions per truckload.
- Sugar- Sugar is probably driven from from within Minnesota to the Cheerios factory, producing about 145 kg of CO2 emissions per truckload.
Then, to transport this food over to the Philippines, it will be shipped about 7652 miles, producing 10092 kg of CO2 emissions. This creates a grand total of 10853 kg of CO2 emission produced for a simple cereal like Cheerios.
2. Gatas pinoy milk
- Milk- Gatas Pinoy is a local Filipino brand, which delivers from door to door. This produced more CO2 emissions as it doesn't just import it's milk to 10 locations where it can reach thousands of people, it has to go to about 100 locations to reach the same amount of people. To transport milk from the farm in Laguna, to my house, it produces about 111 kg of CO2 emission per truckload, however, this is less than an imported milk like Silk.
3. Harvey fresh apple juice
- Apple juice concentrate- Harvey Fresh Apple Juice, grows it's apples locally, however, to transport it to the Philippines by boat (as it is not perishable) produces about 5171 kg of CO2 emission per boatload, not including the CO2 produced from the port to the shops.
4. Brown Gardinia Bread
- Whole wheat- Wheat is not grown in the Philippines, as the climate doesn't support it. Therefore, to import black beans from India by boat, it produces about 6350 kg of CO2 emissions per truckload.
- Sugar- Also produced in the Philippines, produces 3783 kg of CO2 emission per truck when transported from San Carlos to the Gardenia factory.
Transporting the bread from Laguna (the factory location) to the nearest supermarket, will produce about 563 kg of CO2 emission per truckload, overall producing 10133kg of CO2 emissions.
5. Ehje's peanut butter
- Peanuts- EHJE's is another local brand. It is a very healthy peanut butter, with only 2 ingredients, therefore, it is not only good for the environment, but also good for you! The peanuts where originally bought from the local supermarket, but as the brand has grown, they began buying their peanuts from Cagayan Valley. When they get transported by truck, it produces 2014 kg of CO2 per truckload.
- Salt- the closest, and second largest salt producer in the world is China. Salt is probably imported from China as it is cheaper. Transporting the salt by boat produces 2375 kg of CO2 per truckload.
Transporting from the factory to the store by truck, produces another 254 kg of CO2 per truckload, creating a grand total of 4643 kg of CO2 produced.
6. home made fruit shake
- Honey- Although the drink is homemade, and all the ingredients are locally grown (in the Philippines), they still need to be transported. When transported by truck, honey produces about 209 kg of CO2 per truckload.
- Mango- When transported from Davao by plane (because mangoes are perishable and need to be transported quickly) it produces 7929 kg of CO2 per plane.
- Banana- When transported from Davao by plane (because bananas are perishable and need to be transported quickly) it produces about 7929 kg of CO2 per plane.
- Milk- To transport milk from the farm in Laguna, to my house, it produces about 111 kg of CO2 emission.
Overall, this produces 16178 kg of CO2.
7. bean burritos
- Bagio Tomatoes- To transport tomatoes from Bagio by truck, produces 1316 kg of CO2 per truckload.
- Whole wheat- To import black beans from India by boat, it produces about 6350 kg of CO2 emissions per truckload.
- Black Beans- To import black beans from India by boat, it produces about 6350 kg of CO2 emissions per truckload.
- Cheese- To import cheese from New Zealand by boat, it produces about 6803 kg of CO2 emissions per truckload.
Overall, to produce bean burritos, it creates 20819 kg of CO2 emissions.
8. Kang kong
Kang kong- the kang kong we use is locally produced and sold in a 'wet market' which means it probably didn't travel as far to reach us. When transported by Jeepney about 20 miles, 120 kg of CO2 was produced per truckload.