Sandwiches feed global warming

BRITAIN’S love for sandwiches is contributing to global warming, scientists have warned.

Britons consume 11.5 billion sandwiches a year, half of which are ready-made and sold in shops. Researchers said the environmental impact of this was equivalent to emissions from 8.6 million cars.

University of Manchester researchers calculated the carbon footprint of 40 of the most popular types of sandwich. This is a measure of the energy used and greenhouse gases emitted in producing the ingredients, as well as transport, chilling and packaging the final product.

They found the snacks with the highest impact were those containing bacon, ham, sausages, cheese and prawns. The most carbon-intensive variety was a ready-made ‘all-day breakfast’ sandwich containing egg, bacon and sausage, which generated 1,441 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent – the same as driving a car for 12 miles.

Researchers said it is possible to cut these emissions by omitting certain ingredients and extending the shelf-life of shop-bought sandwiches. They also encouraged making them at home, reducing packaging and overall transportation.

The study, published in Sustainable Production and Consumption, said the largest contributor to a product’s carbon footprint came from the production of ingredients, which can account for 37 to 67 per cent of the emissions for ready-made sandwiches.