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Improvement Percentage Calculation

To rate a food product independent of the amount being consumed, we calculate the "improvement percentage" that compares it to the global average food consumption.

Formula​

Improvement Percentage = 1 - (CO₂ value / DFU) / Global CO₂/DFU

Where:

  • CO₂ value = CO₂-equivalent value of your product (in grams)
  • DFU = Daily Food Units associated with your product
  • Global CO₂/DFU = 3894 g (the global average ratio)

Example Calculation​

Let's calculate the improvement percentage for a sample product:

Given Values​

CO₂ value = 2667 g
DFU = 0.32
Global CO₂/DFU = 3894 g

Step-by-Step Calculation​

  1. Calculate the product's CO₂ per DFU:

    CO₂ per DFU = 2667 / 0.32 = 8334 g

  2. Compare to global average:

    Ratio = 8334 / 3894 = 2.14

  3. Calculate improvement percentage:

    Improvement = 1 - 2.14 = -1.14

Result​

Improvement percentage = -1.14 or -114%

This means the food is 114% worse than average. The negative value indicates it has higher emissions than the global average.

Interpreting Results​

Positive Values (Better than Average)​

  • +0.50 (50%): Product is 50% better than average → Climate Friendly
  • +0.30 (30%): Product is 30% better than average
  • +0.10 (10%): Product is slightly better than average

Negative Values (Worse than Average)​

  • -0.20 (-20%): Product is 20% worse than average
  • -0.50 (-50%): Product is 50% worse than average
  • -1.14 (-114%): Product is 114% worse than average (as in our example)

Climate Friendly Threshold​

According to our climate friendly definition, any meal with an improvement percentage of ≥ 50% (0.50) qualifies as climate friendly.

This threshold is based on:

  • IPCC recommendations
  • Eat-Lancet Commission research
  • Required global emissions reduction targets (50-64%)

Why Use Daily Food Units?​

The Daily Food Unit (DFU) normalization is crucial for fair comparison because:

  1. Portion size varies: A snack and a main course can't be directly compared
  2. Nutritional value matters: Different foods provide different nutritional benefits
  3. Fair comparison: DFU accounts for how much the food contributes to daily nutritional needs

Without DFU normalization, we might incorrectly compare:

  • A 30g snack bar to a 300g main course
  • A high-calorie dessert to a low-calorie vegetable side
  • An appetizer to a complete meal

For detailed explanation, see Daily Food Unit.

Applications​

Product Development​

  • Target products with >50% improvement for climate-friendly certification
  • Identify which ingredients contribute most to emissions
  • Compare recipe variations to optimize environmental impact
  • Rank dishes by improvement percentage
  • Ensure climate-friendly options (≥50%) are available
  • Balance menu with variety while improving overall average

Consumer Communication​

  • Simple percentage makes environmental impact understandable
  • "50% better than average" is more intuitive than absolute CO₂ values
  • Enables comparison across different types of foods

Reporting and Analytics​

  • Track improvement trends over time
  • Compare performance across locations or product lines
  • Set reduction targets based on current improvement percentages

Relationship to Other Metrics​

The improvement percentage is used in conjunction with other calculations:

  1. CO₂ Savings: Converts percentage into absolute grams saved

  2. Climate Score: Maps percentage ranges to A-E letter grades

  3. Category Comparisons: Compares products within food categories

Global Average Calculation​

The Global CO₂/DFU ratio of 3894 g is calculated from:

  • Millions of products in our database
  • Diverse food types and preparation methods
  • Multiple regions and seasonal variations
  • Continuously updated as new data is added

This represents the current average environmental impact per Daily Food Unit across all analyzed foods.

For more on how the average is calculated, see:

Example Use Cases​

Restaurant Menu Analysis​

Dish: Vegetable Curry
CO₂ value: 800 g
DFU: 0.5

Improvement = 1 - (800 / 0.5) / 3894
Improvement = 1 - (1600 / 3894)
Improvement = 1 - 0.41
Improvement = 0.59 or 59%

✅ Climate Friendly (>50%)

Retail Product Comparison​

Product A: Beef Burger
CO₂ value: 3200 g
DFU: 0.4
Improvement = 1 - (3200 / 0.4) / 3894 = -1.05 (-105%)

❌ Not Climate Friendly

Product B: Bean Burger
CO₂ value: 400 g
DFU: 0.4
Improvement = 1 - (400 / 0.4) / 3894 = 0.74 (74%)

✅ Climate Friendly (>50%)