Dining Out Seriously Contributes to Carbon Emissions

skiptamali · Tar Sands Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 59

You might want to read this article and consider how much dining out impacts global carbon emissions. From my standpoint, it's not something that very many people discuss- I'd like to get the word out and press our restaurants to use locally grown food as much as possible. It makes sense to support your regional markets, doesn't it? I'd feel better since the alternative is a meal with a (potentially) much higher carbon footprint.

[edit - topic moved to Environment Forum - markl]

albente · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Aug 20, 2004 Posts: 1361

Jack · Dark Lord Joined: Aug 11, 2004 Posts: 5123

dohboi · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Dec 05, 2005 Posts: 1427

We will soon be kissing fresh fruits and veggies in winter goodbye, that is those of us in the upper latitudes. Get used to potatoes and sour kraut.

paimei01

Stop this talk about carbon emissions stuff. Or the bee die off, or anything else that is slow and ominous ! I want a meteorite ! Smile

nocar · Intermediate Crude Joined: Nov 05, 2004 Posts: 685

From reading the link, I think the '100 times more' was an unfair comparison. It compares eating out with carefully chosen local produce when 'eating in'. How common is the latter situation, really? If you buy a frozen meal to eat at home (very common), all the steps in bringing it to the frozen stage produce CO2. If you also bring it home by car, you add extra CO2, compared to walking or going by public transport to a restaurant, if that is an option.

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dohboi wrote

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Homesteader

mommy22 · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 22, 2005 Posts: 270

Has anyone ever done a study on pizza delivery and it's effect on the planet? Those boxes are never made of recycled cardboard, cars or trucks deliver them, and ovens go at high temps for at least 12 hours per day.
Just curious!

vision-master

Dining Out Seriously Contributes to Having a good time ~~Carbon Emissions~~

Kingcoal

Well duh, dining out is more carbon (energy) intensive. But I wouldn't jump on the bandwagon yet. This is another example of generalization. If you shop at a grocery store, you are already eating "3000 mile salads" and whatnot. Our entire food distribution system is energy intensive.

When I was a kid, my grandmother used to can fruit. We had pear, apple, cherry and peach trees nearby. The house next store used to be an orchid at one point and thus we had a plethora of apples in the summertime, which we used to make cider, pies, etc, with. Anyway, my grandmother would can some things in mason jars for the winter. That's the way people used to have certain foods in the winter; they had preservation techniques. The way it used to be - no fresh fruit or veggies in out of season.

Still, eating at home is better. I can make better food at home than just about anything I've had in most any restaurant anyway.
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stepka

Part of the problem with dining out is how much food is wasted in restaurants. For one thing, they usually give you too much food these days, so not all of that is eaten. Then they have to keep a certain amount of food in inventory, because God forbid you should order something and they'll be out of it. If it's a food bar kind of place, they must keep all of those dishes topped off and some of it dries in the pan, so that gets pitched. It wouldn't be so much of a problem, if it weren't for all that shipping, as you've already discussed.

allenwrench · Intermediate Crude Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 893

allenwrench · Intermediate Crude Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 893

mos6507

News flash, breathing contributes to carbon emissions.

Really, go after the LOW hanging fruit first. Let's not demonize basic activities like eating.
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As long as I am around, there are no worries we have reached "Peak Words"

--ReverseEngineer

vilemerchant · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 07, 2008 Posts: 122

Who the hell cares about carbon emissions? Don't worry, when oil production goes into free fall so will CO2 output! We're saved! Oh hang on- we're starving.