Ever wondered about the environmental cost of that satisfying crunch when you munch on your favourite packet of crisps? Brace yourselves \u2013 it’s higher than you might think. Producing a mere kilogram of these beloved snacks releases 2.8 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq) into the atmosphere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The carbon footprint comes from two main sources:\u00a0<\/p>\n
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- The use of anaerobic digesters in processing food waste (oil, potatoes peels and other ingredients used to flavour crisps): in the presence of oxygen, microorganisms degrade food waste, releasing large amounts of methane and CO2 as byproducts. It is not all bad though as these digesters can produce~ 300 kWh of energy \/per ton digested.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n
- The production of fertilisers used to grow potatoes. These are made using the Haber Process, which produces large amounts of CO2 as a byproduct while also requiring a large energy input.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Now, for the big question \u2013 how do we solve this problem? For this, CCm Technologies<\/a>, a UK clean tech company established in 2011 and based in Swindon, turns to an unexpected source: waste. Specifically, they combined CO2 with ammonia (or phosphates) and organic fibres found in waste and turned them into low carbon and resource-efficient fertiliser pellets. Here\u2019s how it works:\u00a0<\/p>\n
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- Ammonia is extracted from urine, sewage sludge, and runoff from industrial and agricultural processes.<\/li>\n
- Ammonia is combined with CO2 released from anaerobic digesters under high heat to form ammonium bicarbonate. The heat is a byproduct from the digester.<\/li>\n
- Ammonium bicarbonate forms the foundation for the low carbon pellets<\/li>\n
- Additional fibrous material\u00a0from the anaerobic digester by-product \u201ccakes\u201d\u00a0is incorporated into the pellets to enhance nutrient content. For crisps, the \u2018cake\u2019 will contain mostly potato fibres, but it can also come from treated sewage sludge, cattle slurries and chicken litter.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The benefits of these new pellets are clear \u2013 they keep CO2 away from the atmosphere while producing the same yield as conventional fertilisers. At the consumer level, CCm partnered with PepsiCo and used these pellets to make low carbon potato crisps \u2013 with a 70% reduction in CO2 emission per potato!\u00a0<\/p>\n
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What\u2019s more, CCm fertiliser doesn\u2019t just stop at reducing carbon emissions; it actively improves soil health by sequestering organic carbon into the soil, thereby preventing soil erosion. Around one tonne of CO2 is sequestered per tonne of fertiliser, and this stored carbon remains in the soil for at least 20 years, bolstering soil structure, permeability, and biodiversity and ultimately boosting yield.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nWith this technology, the agricultural sector can be reshaped to produce many more low carbon food products, not just limited to crisps. For now, as we indulge in our favourite snack, remember that even the humble crisp can contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read the original article from CCm Technologies<\/a> and it\u2019s presentation<\/a> to parliament in Dec 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The content discussed in this article aligns with\u202fthe\u00a0United Nations Sustainable Development Goal:<\/a>\u00a0Responsible consumption and production\u00a0(12).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sign up to receive the FBMH ES newsletter by contacting\u00a0<\/span><\/span>srbmh@manchester.ac.uk<\/span><\/span><\/a>. Read our\u00a0<\/span>previous<\/span>\u00a0editions:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>June<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>October<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a02023<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
To find out more about Environmental Sustainability: visit the Faculty\u2019s\u00a0intranet page<\/a>,\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0or contact\u00a0srbmh@manchester.ac.uk\u00a0<\/a>.\u00a0For more information on Environmental\u00a0Sustainability at the University watch this\u00a0short film<\/a>\u00a0or visit their\u00a0website.<\/a><\/p>\n
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Fruitcake cake danish oat cake powder jujubes caramels chupa chups jelly beans. Bonbon tootsie roll jelly souffl\u00e9 fruitcake tootsie roll jelly sesame snaps cake. Gingerbread cotton candy oat cake jelly-o candy apple pie powder. Marshmallow powder chocolate bar sugar plum chocolate bar wafer marshmallow sugar plum bear claw. Marzipan macaroon bonbon sweet powder chocolate cake donut toffee carrot cake. Ice cream apple pie pastry. Wafer biscuit brownie bonbon. Pudding muffin tiramisu powder biscuit souffl\u00e9 biscuit chupa chups chupa chups. Powder lemon drops pastry apple pie lemon drops cotton candy. Pudding macaroon halvah jelly brownie drag\u00e9e sweet roll caramels jelly beans. Cookie biscuit lollipop. Donut jelly beans wafer marzipan powder oat cake gummies icing chocolate bar. Dessert fruitcake donut cupcake. Jelly macaroon brownie gingerbread cupcake donut fruitcake.<\/span><\/p>\n
Sweet lemon drops topping brownie lollipop gummies biscuit candy canes donut. Jelly-o fruitcake macaroon. Muffin topping pudding liquorice danish chupa chups carrot cake cake. Sugar plum chupa chups apple pie chocolate cake bear claw chupa chups brownie topping carrot cake. Pastry gummi bears chocolate cake. Cake chocolate bar sugar plum icing cotton candy. Chupa chups halvah jelly macaroon candy canes danish halvah bonbon. Pie chupa chups sweet roll drag\u00e9e pie wafer pudding. Souffl\u00e9 jujubes jelly liquorice pudding pastry cotton candy pastry. Chupa chups jelly beans carrot cake caramels ice cream fruitcake. Candy gingerbread powder sugar plum macaroon candy oat cake tiramisu. Souffl\u00e9 drag\u00e9e sesame snaps powder topping halvah. Croissant gummies dessert donut drag\u00e9e biscuit toffee. Donut ice cream lollipop.<\/span><\/p>\n
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