Tracking UK Food system Greenhouse Gas emissions: 2015-2022

Robust data underpins collaborative action on food and drink emissions.

In 2021, WRAP unveiled the inaugural UK Food System GHG Emissions report, using WRAP’s UK Food System Greenhouse Gas Model to identify emissions hotspots in UK consumption.

Our latest report updates this model with the latest available data, covering 2015-2022, to refine our insights onto UK food and drink sector emissions and facilitate action to reduce emissions. 

Main findings

• WRAP estimates a 12% reduction in GHG emissions (including land use change, 14% reduction excluding land use change) from 2015-2022;
• For the first time, the model includes international transport of food imports to the UK, increasing the total emission estimate. Transport contributes 9-10% of the emissions associated with imports, reaffirming the importance of food production as an emission hotspot.
• The current rate of reduction is about 3.5 million tonnes CO2 equivalent per year. To achieve the ambitious Courtauld target of halving food system emissions by 2030, this rate of change would have to double.
• WRAP re-emphasises the importance of collaborative efforts to reach Net Zero in the food system. WRAP’s modelling fed into work with IGD and EY to set out a ‘Net Zero Transition Plan for the UK Food System' to 2050, which provides priority actions for the industry to collaborate on delivering.