Selection of Ecological Clean Products Outside the Supermarket

• Local products reduce the carbon footprint due to shorter transportation distances.
• Farmers' markets and CSA allow for the disposal of waste below strict standards for product appearance.
• Delivery services promote alternatives, but they may have a higher impact on the climate due to transportation distances.

Contamination from the outside is unpredictable. Apples on your kitchen table do not cause waste, but their cultivation requires land and water, as well as machinery for harvesting, packaging, and transportation. This process emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

According to data from EDGAR FOOD, a global supply chain system accounts for about a third of all greenhouse gas emissions attributed to human activity. Meanwhile, close to a third of the supply in the USA is either marketed or consumed, which contributes to consumers' choices for alternatives, such as farmers' markets and delivery services that promote products that do not meet supermarket standards.

During holiday weeks, such as Thanksgiving, the selection of products becomes particularly important, especially since it can indicate a greater impact on the climate.

Supporting Farmer Systems (CSA)

Jay Kolodinsky, a professor at the University of Vermont, has been purchasing vegetables directly from local farmers through CSA programs for 30 years. Consumers can receive products weekly, which reduces the need for processing and packaging.

Products grown organically have a smaller carbon footprint, as they undergo shorter transportation distances. This can also reduce calculations for energy consumption, as seasonal products require less storage.

Farmers' Markets

Farmers' markets allow consumers to select products that may not be in ideal form. This reduces waste, as consumers are more likely to buy vegetables that do not meet supermarket standards.

Delivery Services

Some delivery services, such as Misfits Market, promote products that do not meet supermarket standards. These services reduce the quantity of waste, even though products may come from distant regions.

Consumers are advised to focus on seasonality, buy local products, and pay attention to packaging.

Tags: Ecology