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Reducing the beef with beef. How a food retailer could reduce their environmental impact by changing what and how they sell

McDonald, Ross LU (2022) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20221
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Current food consumption habits in wealthy countries continue to drive biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Food retailers play a key but currently understudied and underleveraged role in shifting consumer habits away from foods with high climate and biodiversity impacts (e.g. beef, lamb, milk) towards lower-impact alternatives. Through partnering with a Swedish food retailer and analysing their existing product portfolio and its climate impact, scenarios were developed that could help retailers reduce their climate footprint through their in-store offerings. A literature review provided evidence that a combination of nudging, labelling, educational programs, and goal setting, in conjunction with retailer driven product... (More)
Current food consumption habits in wealthy countries continue to drive biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Food retailers play a key but currently understudied and underleveraged role in shifting consumer habits away from foods with high climate and biodiversity impacts (e.g. beef, lamb, milk) towards lower-impact alternatives. Through partnering with a Swedish food retailer and analysing their existing product portfolio and its climate impact, scenarios were developed that could help retailers reduce their climate footprint through their in-store offerings. A literature review provided evidence that a combination of nudging, labelling, educational programs, and goal setting, in conjunction with retailer driven product promotions, could be employed to reduce the retailer’s 2026 GHG emission intensity by 25%, their absolute GHG emissions by 20%, whilst also benefiting biodiversity, compared to 2021 levels. The results also contrast the difference between making no changes and the opportunity that is created if interventions are made. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
McDonald, Ross LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
food retailers, interventions, sustainable consumption, meat reduction, behaviour change, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2022:019
language
English
id
9085148
date added to LUP
2022-06-10 09:06:30
date last changed
2022-06-10 09:06:30
@misc{9085148,
  abstract     = {{Current food consumption habits in wealthy countries continue to drive biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Food retailers play a key but currently understudied and underleveraged role in shifting consumer habits away from foods with high climate and biodiversity impacts (e.g. beef, lamb, milk) towards lower-impact alternatives. Through partnering with a Swedish food retailer and analysing their existing product portfolio and its climate impact, scenarios were developed that could help retailers reduce their climate footprint through their in-store offerings. A literature review provided evidence that a combination of nudging, labelling, educational programs, and goal setting, in conjunction with retailer driven product promotions, could be employed to reduce the retailer’s 2026 GHG emission intensity by 25%, their absolute GHG emissions by 20%, whilst also benefiting biodiversity, compared to 2021 levels. The results also contrast the difference between making no changes and the opportunity that is created if interventions are made.}},
  author       = {{McDonald, Ross}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Reducing the beef with beef. How a food retailer could reduce their environmental impact by changing what and how they sell}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}