Environmental impacts of local consumption, short supply chains, mild processing, and small scale production: A comparison of fruit juice alternatives

Abstract

Novel food supply initiatives that hinge on mild processing, small-scale production, local sourcing of inputs, or short distribution chains are often proposed as an option to reduce the environmental impacts caused by food production and consumption. In this study we propose a lifecycle analysis (LCA) to examine the environmental implications of consuming apple juice from such initiatives compared to alternative options. These include apple and pineapple juices produced in larger industrial settings and distributed over national or international supply chains, as well as homemade juices. Findings indicate that local sourcing, coupled with mild processing and local distribution chains holds promise to reduce the environmental impacts of consumption. However, results are sensitive to several factors, such as the choice of packaging materials, the extent of supply chain shortening, and consumer disposal practices.