What’s the carbon footprint of sugar?
We can’t get enough of sugar. Sugar comes in various forms and can be found in almost everything, but we rarely eat sugar on its own. Discover the hidden carbon footprint of sugar and how to enjoy it in a sustainable diet.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”72%” width_tablet=”72%” width_phone=”85%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ text_font=”||||||||” link_font_size=”20px” link_line_height=”2.3em” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_line_height=”3.3em” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_text_color=”#F70B8B” header_3_font_size=”30px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”35px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” header_3_font_size__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”]Carbon Footprint of Sugar
Let’s compare the carbon footprint of sugar to other sweeteners.
A bag of cane sugar (1kg) produces 660g CO₂e*
That’s…
60% more than beet sugar
38% less than maple syrup
76% less than honey
*CO₂e means carbon dioxide equivalent and measures total greenhouse gases
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2" _builder_version="4.20.2" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="http://thefloopapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/carbon-footprint-sugar.webp" alt="A purple footprint with 660g demonstrates the carbon footprint of sugar. A bag of sugar sits to the left of it." title_text="carbon-footprint-sugar" align="center" _builder_version="4.20.2" _module_preset="default" max_width="62%" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.20.2" _module_preset="default" custom_padding="||27px|||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.20.2" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.20.2" _module_preset="default" header_4_text_color="#F70B8B" global_colors_info="{}"]Get the Floop app and discover the carbon footprint of even more ingredients
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-1px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”|||3px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font_size=”20px” custom_padding=”|26px||2px||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Where does the carbon footprint of sugar come from?
Life cycle assessments (LCAs) help us understand the overall carbon footprint of sugar and which greenhouse gases are released.
Residue burning
The majority of greenhouse gases from sugar cane come from residue burning. Residue burning involves burning leftover crops to clear land for growing more crops. Farmers in developing countries use reside burning because it’s the fastest and cheapest way of getting rid of waste. Residue burning damages soil and releases three greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Fertilisers
Fertilisers increase sugar cane crop yields. As with many other foods, like avocados and crops for beef production, fertilisers also degrade soils and cause pollution of lakes, rivers and oceans.
Farm & Processing Machinery
Running farm machinery also causes greenhouse gas emissions. Irrigation, harvesting and sugarcane crushing tools need lots of energy to run, often using diesel or petrol engines that cause global warming and pollution.
Where does sugar come from?
Sugar can be produced all around the world, meaning that it can technically always be seasonal & local. It can be made from both sugar cane and sugar beet.
Sugar cane tends to grow in tropical climates with warm and wet weather, like Brazil, Thailand, and South Africa. Sugar beet is mainly produced in Europe. In fact, Europe produces around 50% of the world’s sugar beet.
Only a fifth of the world’s sugar comes from sugar beet. Although we can produce sugar locally in Europe, we still need to import sugar cane to meet demand. Raw sugar cane is then processed in Europe and shipped as refined sugar to different countries.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||4px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Can you grow sugar in the UK?
Yes. The East Midlands and the East of England currently has an ideal climate for growing sugar beet.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”97.3%” custom_margin=”||-10px|||” custom_padding=”|||0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Are there other ways sugar impacts the environment?
Yes, sugar cane has a bad rap for environmental impact. This is partly due because the industry isn’t heavily regulated, or the laws in place are often ignored and unenforced.
This has led to polluted lakes and rivers close to sugar farms. Silt and fertiliser wash down from farms and harm life underwater. They also contaminate the water damage water and make the humans and animals reliant on that water ill.
Sugar processing is problematic too. Commercial sugar mills make solid waste, like sludge, which also washes into the local rivers and lakes. As the sludge decomposes, it absorbs oxygen in the water and kills fish and the local ecosystem.
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People and Sugar
Beyond its impact on the climate, sugar brings about social issues.
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Conflict over sugar production is sadly common. Sugar cane is mainly grown in low-income countries. Sugar is in high demand worldwide, and there is a lot of competition for controlling the sugar market.
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Human rights for field workers are not always respected. Low rates of pay, lack of breaks, accidents and dehydration are issues for people in sugar’s supply chain. It’s important to check for certifications, like Fairtrade, on packets.
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Health issues are widely associated with sugar. Many of us are aware that sugar is responsible for causing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and chronic inflammation. It harms health in the supply chain too. Residue burning of sugar cane releases fine particulates and carbon monoxide that cause breathing issues and disease to field workers.
Tips for choosing more sustainable sugar
You can still enjoy sugar as part of a sustainable diet. Here are our tips for raising awareness of when you eat sugar and the types of sugar you choose.- Buy beet sugar. Studies show beet sugar produces less CO₂ than cane sugar. It can also be grown in the UK reducing food miles and transport emissions, scarce water use and health risks to sugar workers. Avoid bags of sugar that say “cane sugar”.
- Mix up your sweeteners. Use other natural sweeteners in cakes, drinks and treats from time-to-time, like fruits, honey and maple syrup. Diversity in your diet is key for our planetary and individual health.
- Limit ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods are ready-made food products, like ready meals, breakfast cereals, crisps, biscuits, cakes, confectionery, yoghurts, sausages, and soft drinks. They tend to be branded items and often contain lots of hidden sugar, from sugar cane, which means a hidden carbon footprint.
Sustainable recipes using sugar
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Try the Green Smoothie recipe or delicious Homemade Porridge with Berries in the Floop app
- Add beet sugar to our Simple Lemon Loaf. Get the recipe in the app.