Consumption-based GHG emissions of the food supply chain in Japan: a top–down approach integrating input–output and margin tables
This study introduces an innovative top–down approach to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to food consumption in Japan. By combining input–output tables with supplementary margin tables, this method allows for a comprehensive assessment of consumption-based emissions across various sta...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2976-601X/adef5f |
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| author | Osamu Kimura Shunichi Hienuki |
| author_facet | Osamu Kimura Shunichi Hienuki |
| author_sort | Osamu Kimura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study introduces an innovative top–down approach to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to food consumption in Japan. By combining input–output tables with supplementary margin tables, this method allows for a comprehensive assessment of consumption-based emissions across various stages of the food supply chain, including production, trade, and transportation. Applying this method to the Japanese food system, we found that food-related GHG emissions amounted to 220 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (t-CO2eq). Our methodology also enables the analysis of food consumption not only in households, but also in restaurants and food take-out services, finding that emissions from the meal-providing service sectors are 32 million t-CO2eq, compared to 159 million t-CO2eq from food directly purchased by consumers. Examination of these emissions highlighted the more significant role of meat consumption than previously recognized, although it remains much lower than that in Western countries. Additionally, we revealed that approximately 70% of food-related emissions occurred during the production phase, with the remaining 30% divided almost equally between the transport and retail processes. However, the distribution varied significantly depending on the type of food. These findings suggest the importance of reduction strategies during the production phase as well as changes in consumer behavior. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6cd9f01afec54d11adea20ef8d9eeb6e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2976-601X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research: Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-6cd9f01afec54d11adea20ef8d9eeb6e2025-08-20T02:46:19ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Food Systems2976-601X2025-01-012303500510.1088/2976-601X/adef5fConsumption-based GHG emissions of the food supply chain in Japan: a top–down approach integrating input–output and margin tablesOsamu Kimura0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0271-8361Shunichi Hienuki1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1850-8051Socio-Economic Research Center, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry , 1-6-1 Otemachi Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 1008126, JapanSocio-Economic Research Center, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry , 1-6-1 Otemachi Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 1008126, Japan; Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Yokohama National University , 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, JapanThis study introduces an innovative top–down approach to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to food consumption in Japan. By combining input–output tables with supplementary margin tables, this method allows for a comprehensive assessment of consumption-based emissions across various stages of the food supply chain, including production, trade, and transportation. Applying this method to the Japanese food system, we found that food-related GHG emissions amounted to 220 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (t-CO2eq). Our methodology also enables the analysis of food consumption not only in households, but also in restaurants and food take-out services, finding that emissions from the meal-providing service sectors are 32 million t-CO2eq, compared to 159 million t-CO2eq from food directly purchased by consumers. Examination of these emissions highlighted the more significant role of meat consumption than previously recognized, although it remains much lower than that in Western countries. Additionally, we revealed that approximately 70% of food-related emissions occurred during the production phase, with the remaining 30% divided almost equally between the transport and retail processes. However, the distribution varied significantly depending on the type of food. These findings suggest the importance of reduction strategies during the production phase as well as changes in consumer behavior.https://doi.org/10.1088/2976-601X/adef5ffood supply chaingreenhouse gas emissionsconsumption-basedmeal-providing servicetrade and transport |
| spellingShingle | Osamu Kimura Shunichi Hienuki Consumption-based GHG emissions of the food supply chain in Japan: a top–down approach integrating input–output and margin tables Environmental Research: Food Systems food supply chain greenhouse gas emissions consumption-based meal-providing service trade and transport |
| title | Consumption-based GHG emissions of the food supply chain in Japan: a top–down approach integrating input–output and margin tables |
| title_full | Consumption-based GHG emissions of the food supply chain in Japan: a top–down approach integrating input–output and margin tables |
| title_fullStr | Consumption-based GHG emissions of the food supply chain in Japan: a top–down approach integrating input–output and margin tables |
| title_full_unstemmed | Consumption-based GHG emissions of the food supply chain in Japan: a top–down approach integrating input–output and margin tables |
| title_short | Consumption-based GHG emissions of the food supply chain in Japan: a top–down approach integrating input–output and margin tables |
| title_sort | consumption based ghg emissions of the food supply chain in japan a top down approach integrating input output and margin tables |
| topic | food supply chain greenhouse gas emissions consumption-based meal-providing service trade and transport |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2976-601X/adef5f |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT osamukimura consumptionbasedghgemissionsofthefoodsupplychaininjapanatopdownapproachintegratinginputoutputandmargintables AT shunichihienuki consumptionbasedghgemissionsofthefoodsupplychaininjapanatopdownapproachintegratinginputoutputandmargintables |