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Benchmarking the Swedish Diet Relative to Global and National Environmental Targets—Identification of Indicator Limitations and Data Gaps

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Moberg

    (Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Hanna Karlsson Potter

    (Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Amanda Wood

    (Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Per-Anders Hansson

    (Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Elin Röös

    (Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

Abstract

To reduce environmental burdens from the food system, a shift towards environmentally sustainable diets is needed. In this study, the environmental impacts of the Swedish diet were benchmarked relative to global environmental boundaries suggested by the EAT- Lancet Commission. To identify local environmental concerns not captured by the global boundaries, relationships between the global EAT- Lancet variables and the national Swedish Environmental Objectives (SEOs) were analysed and additional indicators for missing aspects were identified. The results showed that the environmental impacts caused by the average Swedish diet exceeded the global boundaries for greenhouse gas emissions, cropland use and application of nutrients by two- to more than four-fold when the boundaries were scaled to per capita level. With regard to biodiversity, the impacts caused by the Swedish diet transgressed the boundary by six-fold. For freshwater use, the diet performed well within the boundary. Comparison of global and local indicators revealed that the EAT- Lancet variables covered many aspects included in the SEOs, but that these global indicators are not always of sufficiently fine resolution to capture local aspects of environmental sustainability, such as eutrophication impacts. To consider aspects and impact categories included in the SEO but not currently covered by the EAT- Lancet variables, such as chemical pollution and acidification, additional indicators and boundaries are needed. This requires better inventory data on e.g., pesticide use and improved traceability for imported foods.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Moberg & Hanna Karlsson Potter & Amanda Wood & Per-Anders Hansson & Elin Röös, 2020. "Benchmarking the Swedish Diet Relative to Global and National Environmental Targets—Identification of Indicator Limitations and Data Gaps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1407-:d:320600
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Martin & Miguel Brandão, 2017. "Evaluating the Environmental Consequences of Swedish Food Consumption and Dietary Choices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-21, December.
    2. O'Brien, D. & Bohan, A. & McHugh, N. & Shalloo, L., 2016. "A life cycle assessment of the effect of intensification on the environmental impacts and resource use of grass-based sheep farming," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 95-104.
    3. Chapagain, A.K. & Hoekstra, A.Y., 2007. "The water footprint of coffee and tea consumption in the Netherlands," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 109-118, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wood, A. & Moberg, E. & Curi-Quinto, K. & Van Rysselberge, P. & Röös, E., 2023. "From “good for people” to “good for people and planet” – Placing health and environment on equal footing when developing food-based dietary guidelines," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    2. Carlos Eduardo Lourenco & Nadine Marques Nunes-Galbes & Riccardo Borgheresi & Luciana Oranges Cezarino & Flavio Pinheiro Martins & Lara Bartocci Liboni, 2022. "Psychological Barriers to Sustainable Dietary Patterns: Findings from Meat Intake Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Stoeckli, Sabrina & Merian, Sybilla & Wanner, Silvan & Stucki, Matthias & Chaudhary, Abhishek, 2024. "Advancing Biodiversity Footprinting for Food-Related Behavior Change," OSF Preprints zpvq4, Center for Open Science.
    4. Moberg, Emma & Säll, Sarah & Hansson, Per-Anders & Röös, Elin, 2021. "Taxing food consumption to reduce environmental impacts – Identification of synergies and goal conflicts," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    5. Röös, E. & Wood, A. & Säll, S. & Abu Hatab, A. & Ahlgren, S. & Hallström, E. & Tidåker, P. & Hansson, H., 2023. "Diagnostic, regenerative or fossil-free - exploring stakeholder perceptions of Swedish food system sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).

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