Ecological footprint assessment and its reduction for industrial food products

Abstract

ABSTRACT The food processing industries significantly contribute to the consumption of fossil energy, materials, and other resources with commensurate GHG emissions. In this study, the Ecological Footprint (EF) assessment of four different food products (Pickles, Jams, Honey and Chutney) manufactured in a food processing industry (Merry Foods) in India has been presented. Simultaneously, the reduction potential in terms of the EF of the food products has also been estimated by suggesting the installation of some sustainable technologies. The ecological footprint of packaged pickle, jam, honey and chutney products have been estimated as 1.67, 0.54, 15.94 and 2.18 gha/ton, respectively. The overall bio-productive land that had the maximum involvement for the food products’ processing at the industry was Cropland (85.7%) followed by CO2 absorption land (11.2%). The life cycle EF of suggested sustainable systems such as grid connected rooftop solar PV system, biogas plant, and rooftop rainwater harvesting system has been estimated as 56.18 gha, 1.33 gha, and 2.92 gha, respectively. Hence, the EF reduction potential of the food products by using all the suggested sustainable technologies was estimated as 99.6 gha. This study is a step towards the sustainability of industrial food products. Abbreviations: EF: Ecological footprint; GRSPV: Grid-connected rooftop photovoltaic; C&D: Construction and demolition; RRH: Rooftop rainwater harvesting; LCEF: Life-cycle ecological footprint; GDP: Gross domestic product; gha: Global hectare; ei: Equivalence factor; LCA: Life cycle analysis; EFfood product: Ecological footprint of food products; EFe: Ecological footprint of energy consumption; EFw: Ecological footprint of water consumption; EFt: Ecological footprint of transportation; EFwe: Ecological footprint of C&D waste disposal; EFm: Ecological footprint of manpower; EFdirect: Ecological footprint of direct land consumption; GHG: Greenhouse gas; LPG: Liquefied petroleum gas; EFme: Ecological footprint of material consumption; HDV: Heavy duty vehicle.