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CO₂ Savings Calculation

While the improvement percentage tells us how much better a food product is compared to average, it alone does not provide enough information about how much CO₂ we actually save by choosing that product.

The Problem​

Each food causes CO₂ emissions. We can calculate what percentage a food product's emissions are better compared to current average food consumption. However, to understand the real-world impact, we need to know the absolute CO₂ savings in grams.

Calculation Formula​

To calculate the actual CO₂ savings, we multiply the improvement percentage by the total amount of food consumed:

CO₂ Savings (g) = (Global CO₂/DFU × DFU) - CO₂ value

Where:

  • CO₂ value = CO₂-equivalent value of your product (in grams)
  • DFU = Daily Food Units associated with your product
  • Global CO₂/DFU ratio = 3894 g (calculated from millions of products)

Example Calculation​

Let's calculate the savings for a climate-friendly product:

Given values:

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

Calculation:

CO₂ Savings = (3894 × 0.32) - 2667
CO₂ Savings = 1246 - 2667
CO₂ Savings = -1421 g CO₂eq

In this example, consuming this food would actually increase emissions by 1421 g CO₂eq compared to average. The negative value indicates the product is worse than average.

For climate-friendly foods, this value would be positive, indicating actual CO₂ savings.

Application in Reports​

In our PDF reports, we display a ranking of the best foods - those that saved the most CO₂. This helps users understand not just which foods are better percentage-wise, but which foods make the biggest absolute difference to their carbon footprint.

Interpreting the Results​

  • Positive values: Food saves CO₂ compared to average consumption
  • Negative values: Food has higher emissions than average
  • Larger positive values: Greater environmental benefit

This metric is particularly useful for:

  • Identifying which specific menu items have the biggest impact
  • Prioritizing recipe improvements
  • Communicating tangible environmental benefits to guests
  • Tracking progress over time in absolute terms