With the rise of environmental awareness in recent years, consumers have begun to pay attention to whether products are environmentally friendly, whether they are marked with low carbon footprint, and other related information when shopping, which may even further influence their consumption choices.
According to a 2021 study published in Nature Food, 34% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 came from the food system. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also stated in its 2019 Special Report on Climate Change and Land that approximately 21% to 37% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from the food system. These data suggest that the food we rely on for survival accounts for a quarter of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions!
The Danish government has developed a world-first "food climate label."
On April 16, 2022, Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Rasmus Prehn announced that the Danish government will invest 9 million Danish kroner (approximately NT$37.31 million) to develop a "Food Climate Labeling System" in response to climate change, becoming the first country in the world to have a unified government-managed food climate labeling system. A task force will also be established, and further progress is expected before the end of the year.
The Danish government believes that environmental standards must be formulated and managed uniformly by the state to avoid the emergence of various environmental labels with different standards in the market that confuse the public and cause confusion among consumers.
According to the Danish Consumer Council, 75% of Danes are unaware of the climate footprint of products. However, statistics from the Danish Food Culture Organization indicate that approximately 60% of Danes want to buy green products and eat food that is more environmentally friendly. However, when shopping, they often don't know which products are truly green choices, and brands offering these products struggle to fully communicate these issues to consumers. The widespread adoption of food climate labeling in the future may help alleviate this communication gap between the market and consumers.
Denmark updates its 2021 dietary guidelines to encourage low-carbon foods
This isn't the first time the Danish government has incorporated environmental sustainability into its policies. In early 2021, the Danish government included carbon emissions in its national dietary guidelines for the first time. These guidelines recommended that Danes eat more plant-based foods (such as beans and vegetables) and less meat. According to the Climate Council, Danes aged 6 to 64 could reduce their climate footprint by an average of 31 to 54%.
Now, if the application of climate labels is added, it is hoped that the Danish government will achieve its goal of reducing its climate footprint by 70% by 2030 and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Currently, Danish consumers and retailers are positive about the use of climate labeling for food, believing that consumers can choose food based on standardized climate labels. Retailers also believe that climate labeling can enhance consumer trust in their products. However, the Danish Retail Grocers Association has stated that labels must be credible in order to be effectively used in a long-term and widespread manner.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/234083)
