The food system produces more harmful greenhouse gases than many industries. In order to achieve the climate goals, the food industry wants to reduce CO₂ emissions. The Federal Association of the German Food Industry (BVE) has now presented guidelines at the Green Week that are intended to help producers to improve their CO₂ balance and to produce in a more resource-efficient manner. The primary goal is to “reduce your own greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible before offsetting excess emissions with compensation certificates,” advises the BVE. The association is making it clear that simply offsetting CO₂ by planting trees is not enough. Trading in certificates from forest projects is controversial. Some growers also use these to advertise their products as “carbon neutral”. The BVE is also critical of this: “Statements about climate neutrality, for example on the packaging, should be made with caution so that accusations of greenwashing do not arise,” warns BVE Managing Director Stefanie Sabet. Switching to renewable energies is one of the most important levers when it comes to avoiding CO₂.
Green Week – Less CO₂ through food – Economy
