Research Unearths How Big Food Impacts Planetary Health

• Research shows that the total global emissions of the top 10 biggest food and drink businesses operating in the UK in 2022 was 477 million tCO2e — tonnes (t) of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent (e) — compared to the UK’s emissions of 426 million tCO2e.
• Bite Back’s new report highlights that 3 out of 10 businesses — Ferrero, Kraft Heinz, and PepsiCo — actually increased their annual emissions in 2022. [1]
• Bite Back youth activists will be speaking on a panel discussion with experts at an event to launch the new report in London this evening (18 September 2024).

The top 10 global food and drink companies that sell products in the UK were responsible for a staggering 477 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2022 – more than the international aviation industry [2], according to a new report from youth-led campaign group Bite Back.

The findings are part of the latest instalment in Bite Back's Fuel Us, Don’t Fool Us research series, which shines a spotlight on the environmental impact of major food companies and asks the critical question: Are Big Food Companies Taking Planetary Health Seriously Enough?

The top ten food manufacturers highlighted in the report are Ferrero International SA, Mondelez International Inc, Unilever Plc, Kellogg Company, Mars Inc, Nestlé, PepsiCo Inc, The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Heinz Co, and Danone.

James Toop, CEO of Bite Back, said: “Big Food is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Our investigations found that most businesses do not have ambitious enough climate targets, and 7 out of the top 10 are failing to meet their own internal targets. What's even more worrying is that 3 out of the top 10 are moving in the wrong direction — in 2022, Ferrero, Kraft Heinz, and PepsiCo actually increased their yearly emissions since setting their targets."

“Others, like Mondelez and Kellogg, had barely reduced their emissions by 2022. It’s clear that the biggest and most successful global food companies need to do much more. From our assessment, we don’t have confidence that these businesses are on track to meeting net zero targets by 2050 and protecting the planet’s health," Toop explained.

The global food system is the second biggest contributor to climate change, behind the energy industry [3], and is responsible for almost a third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. [4]

Anna, a 17-year-old member of Bite Back's Youth Board from Yorkshire, shared her experience: "Picture this: the UK's top 10 food businesses are responsible for a staggering 477 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2022 – that's more than the entire UK or even the global aviation industry combined!"

“For me, seeing big food companies use misleading claims about sustainability really upsets me. They’re only telling part of the story and hiding the full truth from the public. We’re endangering ourselves by not protecting the planet. At the same time, nearly 1 in 3 children face a future at risk from food-related ill health. That’s too much. We shouldn’t let the health of people and the planet keep getting worse," she added.

Bite Back has laid out clear actions for both food businesses and the government to take. The charity says, food businesses must set near- and long-term targets aligned with the 1.5°C climate limit, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) [5] and covering all greenhouse gas emissions, including Scope 3. They must commit to cutting total emissions by 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050, alongside publishing transparent reports on their progress.

Bite Back also recommends that governments must mandate businesses to report publicly and consistently on the sales of unhealthy food and drinks and their sustainability metrics on an annual basis.

In February this year, a Bite Back study revealed that 7 of the top 10 global food manufacturers make more than two-thirds (68%) of their food and drink sales in the UK from products that are high in fat, sugar, or salt. While a May 2024 report by the charity revealed that unethical junk food packaging by the same companies, is deliberately designed to manipulate children into craving unhealthy products, using tactics that exploit their preferences for sweets and snacks.

The Are Big Food Companies Taking Planetary Health Seriously Enough? report will be launched tonight at a special event in London, where youth activists, climate experts, and legal and charity professionals will discuss the findings and what can be done to ensure that businesses and government put both human and planetary health first.

[1] This refers to an increase from the base year, as set individually by each business, from which emissions reduction targets are set and progress measured.

[2] International aviation emissions account for flights that departed from one country and arrived in another. Domestic aviation accounts for flights that depart and arrive within the same country.

[3] The National Food Strategy: The Plan. (2021).

[4] Crippa, M., Solazzo, E., Guizzardi, D., et al. (2021). Food Systems Are Responsible for a Third of Global Anthropogenic GHG Emissions. Nature Food, 2(3), pp.198–209.

[5] Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) https://sciencebasedtargets.org/