Low-carbon roadmap for the Finnish food industry

The Finnish food industry generates relatively few, if any, direct emissions, which is a good starting point for a low-carbon future.  However, food is one of the three key sources of emissions in households, and therefore, the food industry’s role in reducing emissions is emphasised beyond its own operations. Many emission reducing solutions have already been implemented, but there is always room for more ambitious climate action.

Current and target state

The direct emissions from food industry operations are typically very low, about 0.15 Mt CO2/a in 2021. The sources of the emissions are the use or generation of carbon dioxide (e.g. stunning and roasting) as well as plants’ internal or adjacent energy production. The life cycle carbon footprint of food products consists of raw materials (50%), energy production (30%) and product manufacturing (10%), logistics (7%) and packaging (3%).

The Finnish food and drink industry has a potential play an important role in the sustainable food production and create global food security in changing climate conditions

According to the updated low-carbon roadmap, Finnish food industry has reduced its direct climate emissions by approximately 15 percent and emissions from purchased energy by over 33 percent between 2018 and 2021. The food industry aims to achieve carbon neutrality of companies’ own emissions by 2035.

Main solutions

Energy efficiency measures, such as developing heat recovery, and the adoption of low-carbon energy production methods with biosteam plants and biogas are already carried out for a long time. Still, the energy and material efficiency measures and switching to low-carbon energy are key enablers in cutting emissions together with electrification of processes.

Other solutions for decreasing emissions include raw material and packaging choices, owned or adjacent energy production plants as well as logistics and waste treatment. Moreover, there is plenty of unused potential in solutions related to the utilisation of production side streams and the prevention of production losses.

Needs and requirements

The transition towards low carbon requires investments and adoption of new technologies throughout the food chain. The industry roadmap underlines the importance of predictable operating environment related to the decarbonisation of the food and drink sector. This includes predictable regulations in national and EU level but also long-term view for energy and climate policies. Specially investments in electrification of processes, energy-efficient systems, and the biogas production should be promoted.

More attention should be paid to the increased appreciation for local and sustainable food should further grow. In addition, development of common calculation methods and data mobility will also support the industry’s climate action. This information could also be utilized at the EU level decision making to consider national specificities.

Future and positive impacts

The industry plans to continue and deepen the work for emission reductions in whole food value chain. The collaborative roadmap process offers a good starting point to strengthen the cooperation and develop solutions for more sustainable food production.

The Finnish food and drink industry has potential to play an important role in the sustainable food production and create global food security in changing climate conditions. The roadmap identified that especially the investments in biogas, and plant and animal production according to the circular economy will generate multiple benefits for the food value chain and the climate but support national energy and food security alike.