Food Banks against Climate Change, a Solution That Works: A Case Study in Navarra, Spain

Worldwide, more than 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted each year, which is equivalent to releasing 4.4 Gt of CO2 equivalents (CO(2)e). In this context, the Food Bank of Navarra (FBN) annually avoids the waste of approximately 3000 tons of perfectly consumable food. The aim of this study was twofold: on the one hand, to analyse the carbon footprint of the FBN and, on the other hand, to perform a comparative analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in two scenarios, with and without the actions of the FBN, in order to identify and quantify the environmental benefits, in terms of GHG emissions reduction, associated with the reduction in food waste. The analyses were conducted in two different years. The carbon footprint associated with the FBN's activities was 147 t of CO(2)e in the year 2018. The quantification of GHGs in the scenario without the FBN showed that if the FBN did not exist 4715 t of CO(2)e would have been emitted. The results obtained in consecutive years were similar, highlighting the importance of the FBN-not only in social terms but also environmental terms-as it prevented a large amount of GHGs from being emitted into the atmosphere. A detailed account of the carbon emission reduction associated with the food bank's operations and the knowledge of the benefits involved could boost their positive effects in facilitating the integration of their activities into policies aimed at climate neutrality.

Automated summary

Over 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted globally each year, leading to significant greenhouse gas emissions. The Food Bank of Navarra plays a crucial role in reducing this waste and associated emissions. Without the actions of the food bank, a much higher amount of CO2 would have been released. The findings highlight the importance of integrating food banks into climate change policies.