PowerSwitch

Food transport has significant and growing impacts. Food transport
accounted for an estimated 30 billion vehicle kilometres in 2002, of which 82%
are in the UK. Road transport accounts for most of the vehicle kilometres, split
between cars, HGVs and LGVs (see figure E1).
♦ Food transport accounts for 25% of all HGV vehicle kilometres in the UK.
♦ Food transport produced 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2002, of
which 10 million tonnes were emitted in the UK (almost all from road
transport), representing 1.8% of the total annual UK CO2 emissions, and
8.7% of the total emissions of the UK road sector.
♦ Transport of food by air has the highest CO2 emissions per tonne, and
is the fastest growing mode. Although air freight of food accounts for only
1% of food tonne kilometres and 0.1% of vehicle kilometres, it produces 11%
of the food transport CO2 equivalent emissions