Local Food Miles Calculator

Enter your food's origin, transport mode, and weight to compare CO₂ emissions from local vs imported food. The Local Food Miles Calculator takes your distance traveled, mode of transport (air, road, rail, or sea), and food weight to calculate total carbon emissions in kg CO₂ — so you can see exactly how much your food choices impact the planet.

Optional: name the food you are tracking

kg

Enter the total weight of the food being transported

miles

Distance from local farm or market to you

miles

Distance the imported food travels to reach you

Results

CO₂ Saved by Buying Local

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Local Food CO₂ Emissions

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Imported Food CO₂ Emissions

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Local CO₂ per kg of Food

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Imported CO₂ per kg of Food

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Emission Reduction by Going Local

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Local vs Imported Food CO₂ Emissions (kg CO₂)

Results Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What are food miles?

Food miles refer to the distance food travels from where it is produced to where it is consumed. The concept was introduced to highlight the environmental cost of transporting food, particularly by air freight or long-haul road over thousands of miles. Higher food miles generally mean a larger carbon footprint, though transport mode and food type also play a major role.

Which transport mode produces the most CO₂ emissions?

Air freight produces by far the most CO₂ per tonne-kilometre, estimated at around 0.602 kg CO₂ per tonne-km. Road transport (van/truck) is next at roughly 0.096 kg CO₂/tonne-km, followed by rail at about 0.028 kg CO₂/tonne-km. Sea freight is the most efficient, at approximately 0.016 kg CO₂/tonne-km, making it far greener for large shipments despite the longer distances.

Does buying local food always reduce emissions?

Not always. While local food generally travels fewer miles, the emissions also depend heavily on how it was grown. For example, greenhouse-grown local tomatoes in a cold climate can have a higher carbon footprint than sun-grown tomatoes shipped by sea from a warmer country. This calculator focuses on the transport emissions component, which is just one part of a food's full lifecycle impact.

How is the CO₂ calculation done in this calculator?

The calculator converts distance from miles to kilometres, converts food weight to tonnes, then multiplies distance (km) × weight (tonnes) × a CO₂ emission factor specific to the transport mode. The emission factors used are based on widely referenced freight transport averages: air (0.602), road (0.096), rail (0.028), and sea (0.016) kg CO₂ per tonne-km.

What unit is CO₂ expressed in?

All CO₂ results in this calculator are expressed in kilograms of CO₂ equivalent (kg CO₂e). This is a standard measure used to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and allows easy comparison between different transport modes and distances.

How much CO₂ does flying food produce compared to shipping by sea?

Air freight emits approximately 37 times more CO₂ per tonne-kilometre than sea shipping. For example, flying 1 tonne of food 1,000 km produces around 602 kg CO₂, while shipping the same load the same distance by sea produces only about 16 kg CO₂. Choosing sea freight for internationally imported goods dramatically reduces emissions.

Can I use this calculator for any type of food?

Yes. This calculator is transport-agnostic — you can use it for any food item such as fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, or packaged goods. Simply enter the weight of the food, the distance it travels, and the transport mode used. The results reflect the transport emissions for that specific journey regardless of the food type.

Why does transport mode matter more than distance sometimes?

Because different transport modes have drastically different emission intensities. A food item shipped 5,000 km by sea may produce fewer emissions than one trucked 500 km by road, depending on quantities. The emission factor per tonne-km for air is nearly 38 times that of sea, so a short air freight journey can easily dwarf a long sea voyage in terms of CO₂ output.

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