Greenhouse gases reduction potential through consumer's behavioral changes in terms of food-related product selection. (15th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoshikawa, Naoki; Fujiwara, Natsumi; Nagata, Junko; Amano, Koji
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 162(2016)
• Page Start: 1564
• Page End: 1570
• Publication Date: 2016-01-15
• Subjects: Final consumption-based CO2 emissions -- Change in consumption behavior -- Food -- Scenario-based approach; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.06.057
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Greenhouse gases (GHG) reduction potential by shopping behavior change is analyzed. Four scenarios related to food consumption is evaluated using life cycle assessment. Total GHG reduction potential by four scenarios in Japan is 1367 kt-CO2 /year. Potential reduces to 45% when considering feasible ratio of taking behavior change. Contribution of seasonal production/consumption scenario is highest among scenarios. Abstract: Sustainable consumption plays an important role in the mitigation of global warming and the conservation of energy. Promoting more environmentally responsible consumer behavior, especially through open communication between stakeholders, is one way to achieve low-carbon consumption. This study evaluates the potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through behavioral transformation of consumers in terms of their daily shopping habits. In this context, the behavioral transformative actions pertain to certain foods and daily necessities, and are analyzed from a life cycle assessment perspective. We developed multiple product-selection scenarios to evaluate GHG emissions related to the daily purchase of commodities. Based on the life cycle assessment, we estimated the GHG emissions that result from the production and distribution of these commodities, pertaining to both the current product selection and to a possibly improved selection. The results of our study show that because of seasonal consumption patterns and energy conversion, there is a substantial potential to reduce GHG emissions resulting from out-of-season produce cultivation. The GHG reduction potential is not high for each individual commodity because diverse commodities are needed on a daily basis. However, various actions in combination could have substantial potential for reducing emissions.