a lifecycle approach greenhouse gas emissions of infant formula production melissa tinling; dr....
TRANSCRIPT
A lifecycle approach
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS OF INFANT
FORMULA PRODUCTION
Melissa Tinling; Dr. Miriam Labbok; Dr. Jason WestUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1. Context2. Lifecycle methodology & calculations3. Preliminary results
OUTLINE
INSPIRATION
What’s climate change got to do with infant feeding?
BACKGROUND & CONTEXT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF FOOD
Agriculture Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Land-use & forestry
GREENHOUSE GASES & FOOD
FAO Profile for Climate Change. 2009. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/012/i1323e/i1323e00.pdf. IPCC Fourth Assessment Report; Figure 2.1. 2007. http://www.ipcc.ch/
Dairy production 2.7% of total global GHG (FAO 2010)
Sources:Enteric fermentation: CH4
Manure: CH4, N2O
Farm activities: CO2
Feed production: CO2
GREENHOUSE GASES (GHG) & DAIRY
http://epa.gov/methane/rlep/presentation/sld023.htm
Largest subset of the “baby food” sector: 179 million kg produced in 2007
Common even among breastfed infants
U.S. government is largest U.S. purchaser
Growing U.S. exports
INFANT FORMULA IN U.S.A.
http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/NIS_data/
Quantify GHG emissions of powdered cows-milk infant formula production & consumption in U.S.:1. Identify stages responsible for the greatest %
Organize information to assist future studies
Support evidence-based advocacy
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
From “cradle to grave”
LIFECYCLE ASSESSMENT METHODS &
CALCULATIONS
Raw materials IngredientsPackaging
ManufacturingHome useDisposal*Transportation
“LIFECYCLE” CONCEPT
Quantifies holistic environmental impact
Separates subjective from objective
Step IV requires external review
No “carbon footprint” method yet
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANIZATION: LIFECYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA)
1. MODELING A LIFECYCLE
One “batch” of powdered formula = 4,536 kg“Meta product” powder formulation
MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS
How much GHG is produced at each stage?
1.Collect energy and/or materials used-Eg. X km driven by truck
2.Emissions factor: amount of a specific GHG emitted per unit of energy or material
-Eg. Y kg CO2 per Y km driven
3.Multiply:
2. CALCULATING (GHG) OUTPUTS
22 kgCO
km
YkgCOXkm
EXAMPLE: TRANSPORTATION
EXAMPLE: FACTORY
1. Sum GHG from all stages of lifecycle
2. Combine all GHG to “carbon dioxide equivalent” (CO2-eq):
3. Multiply GHG for batch by national production
3. CALCULATE TOTAL GHG OUTPUT
)298()25()(242
2 ONCHCOmmmeqCO
to be continued…PRELIMINARY RESULTS
1.Dairy Farm
2. Consumer use
3. Manufacturing
4. Transportation
LARGEST CONTRIBUTORS
GHG emissions of formula feeding are likely to be significant, and larger than emissions associated with breastfeeding (if any)
GHG emissions from infant formula may be a substantial portion of total emissions associated with infant care
Lifecycle assessment (LCA) method is essential to systematically accounting for emissions from all relevant processes
CONCLUSIONS
Calculate environmental LCAs or “carbon footprints” Other environmental effects Other regions (different dairy farming)
Illuminate manufacturing process. How much liquid milk to make formula? Manufacturing process?
For comparison, calculate “footprint” from extra calories & water consumed during breastfeeding.
“Eco-labeling” of carbon-neutral foods?
AREAS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
