Today’s Solutions: March 28, 2024

We make decisions at the grocery store based on how much things cost, but when was the last time you made a purchase decision based on the carbon cost of a product? A new grocery store in Sweden is making it easier to shop consciously with the price of items based on their carbon footprint. 

Operated by the Swedish food brand, Felix, The Climate Store demonstrates the carbon impact differences between plant-based and meat-based foods as well as the toll that long-distance food shipping takes on the planet. 

Food production is responsible for about one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s not always clear which foods are the biggest culprits. The store allocates shoppers a weekly budget of 18.9kg CO2, so customers must think critically about the footprint of their regular shopping habits. They are also more aware of the direct impact of their purchases. 

Moving forward, the store plans to expand its labeling to include a more detailed breakdown of products’ carbon footprints. It’s a fun challenge for shoppers to see if they can keep their carbon purchases within budget, but on a more impactful level, the store also financially rewards shoppers for habits that reduce their impact on the planet. In this way, shoppers trend towards buying local, seasonal, plant-based products.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Rowing against the current: Botswana’s women safari guides inspire and empower

In the calm of Botswana's Okavango Delta, where the morning sun creates a golden glow on the water's surface, an amazing metamorphosis is occurring. ...

Read More

The future of healing: 3D printing skin directly onto open wounds

Pennsylvania State University researchers achieved a major medical science breakthrough by being the first team ever to 3D print real human skin tissue directly ...

Read More

These solar-powered barges can scoop up 50 tons of plastic from rivers each day

While removing the plastic waste that currently contaminates the ocean today will be crucial for protecting marine ecosystems, it is arguably more important that ...

Read More

A bold step towards climate action and job creation: The American Climate Corps

The White House announced the creation of the American Climate Corps, a breakthrough program that will transform the climate action landscape. This ambitious project ...

Read More