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Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Infant Formula Production

Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Infant Formula Production. A lifecycle approach. Melissa Tinling ; Dr. Miriam Labbok ; Dr. Jason West University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outline. Context Lifecycle methodology & calculations Preliminary results. Inspiration. Background & Context.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Infant Formula Production

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  1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Infant Formula Production A lifecycle approach Melissa Tinling; Dr. Miriam Labbok; Dr. Jason West University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  2. Outline • Context • Lifecycle methodology & calculations • Preliminary results

  3. Inspiration

  4. Background & Context What’s climate change got to do with infant feeding?

  5. Environmental impacts of food

  6. Greenhouse gases & food • Agriculture • Methane (CH4) • Nitrous oxide (N2O) • Land-use & forestry 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/

  7. Greenhouse gases (GHG) & dairy • Dairy production  2.7% of total global GHG (FAO 2010) • Sources: • Enteric fermentation: CH4 • Manure: CH4, N2O • Farm activities: CO2 • Feed production: CO2 http://epa.gov/methane/rlep/presentation/sld023.htm

  8. Infant formula in U.S.A. • 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 http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/NIS_data/

  9. Research Objectives • Quantify GHG emissions of powdered cows-milk infant formula production & consumption in U.S.: • Identify stages responsible for the greatest % • Organize information to assist future studies • Support evidence-based advocacy

  10. LifeCycle Assessment Methods & Calculations From “cradle to grave”

  11. “Lifecycle” concept • Raw materials • Ingredients • Packaging • Manufacturing • Home use • Disposal • *Transportation

  12. International Standards Organization: Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) • Quantifies holistic environmental impact • Separates subjective from objective • Step IV requires external review • No “carbon footprint” method yet

  13. 1. Modeling a lifecycle

  14. Major Assumptions • One “batch” of powdered formula = 4,536 kg • “Meta product” powder formulation

  15. 2. Calculating (GHG) outputs How much GHG is produced at each stage? • Collect energy and/or materials used -Eg. X km driven by truck • Emissions factor: amount of a specific GHG emitted per unit of energy or material -Eg. Y kg CO2 per Y km driven • Multiply:

  16. Example: Transportation

  17. Example: Factory

  18. 3. Calculate Total GHG Output • Sum GHG from all stages of lifecycle • Combine all GHG to “carbon dioxide equivalent” (CO2-eq): • Multiply GHG for batch by national production

  19. Preliminary results to be continued…

  20. Largest Contributors • Dairy Farm • Consumer use • Manufacturing • Transportation

  21. Conclusions • 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

  22. Areas for Future Research • 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?

  23. Questions? Thank you! mtinling@live.unc.edu

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