Good Food for Camden - Sustain

Good Food FOr CamdenAchieving environmental sustainabilityOur current food system is a significant contributing factor inclimate change and generating unnecessary waste. It isestimated that between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of the UK’scontribution to greenhouse gas emissions is caused by our foodand drink 8 . ‘The Food We Waste’ report published in 2008 bythe Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) found thatone third of the food bought in the UK is thrown away (6.7million tonnes of food per year) equating to 18 million tonnes ofcarbon dioxide - generated during its production and disposal -being emitted unnecessarily each year.Significant environmental benefits can be achieved by improvingthe sustainability of our food system. Thirty-three percent ofCamden’s domestic waste is made up of kitchen waste 9 .Camden already has ambitious targets to reduce carbonemissions and waste arising in the borough by 2011 includingtwo National Indicators (NI191 and NI186) 10 within Camden’sLocal Area Agreement.As well as reducing food waste, significant reductions ingreenhouse gases can be made by encouraging and supportingresidents to make better informed choices when buying andeating food. Choosing locally grown food or food that isproduced less intensively and with minimal use of damagingchemicals and fertilisers can help reduce the negative effects offood consumption.Good Food for Camden: The healthy and sustainable A food supermarket strategy in Belsize Park11