The carbon footprint of pre-packaged sandwiches

Approximately 11.5 billion sandwiches are being eaten annually in the UK, according to the British Sandwich Association (BSA).

Sandwiches are traditionally a staple of the British diet with many opting for commercial, pre-packaged sandwiches during lunch times, but how many consumers are actually aware of the severe consequences that they can have on the environment?

It has been revealed by scientists that our sandwich industry has a greater environmental impact than eight million cars being used on the roads.

In the study carried out by researchers at the University of Manchester, 40 different types of sandwiches were analysed. The carbon footprint of each sandwich was calculated taking into account the cultivation of ingredients, sandwich packaging and the way that food waste is discarded.

The results found that a combination of changes to a sandwich recipe, packaging and waste could reduce its carbon footprint by 50%. Replacing ready-made sandwiches with home-made ones could also cut emissions in half as keeping pre-packaged sandwiches refrigerated in shops accounts for approximately a quarter of their greenhouse gas emissions.

According to research by BSA, the sell by dates on labels are rather ‘conservative’ as sandwiches are generally safe for consumption after this date. To put things into context, increasing the shelf life of these pre-packaged sandwiches could reduce 2,000 tonnes of waste each year.

Overall the ready-made sandwiches containing egg, bacon and sausage has the largest carbon footprint, creating 1,441g of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of driving a car for 12 miles.

Pre-packaged sandwiches are extremely popular in the UK as they are considered convenient options throughout the day, so the findings are unlikely to have a huge effect on their sales in the UK. Instead, Friends of the Earth have urged retailers to bring environmentally friendly lunch options to local supermarkets.

A food campaigner, Clare Oxborrow commented: “Supermarkets need to step up to the plate and make sure their sandwiches aren’t toasting the planet. It’s almost impossible to find a plant-based filling among the meaty and cheesy offerings.”