Environmental Impacts of Telecoupling of the Urban Consumption System of Organic Foods

Abstract

The environmental impacts of the food system, especially the distances covered, are not clear to the final consumer. The aim was to evaluate and calculate the urban telecoupling and the environmental impacts and calculate the energy consumption and the environmental emissions of the organic foods. Through the calculation of quantities, distances, losses and the analysis of telecouplings, we measured Greenhouse Gas (GG) emissions, as well as the energy and carbon footprints of organic foods traded at the CEASA/PR, Curitiba. Emissions had a low environmental impact because the largest quantities of transported organics originate from production sites located within the greater Curitiba region. The study showed a consumption pattern supporting food produced in regions adjacent to the trading center in safe and healthy and safe way, which may be associated with a greater awareness of the environmental impacts resulting from the distances covered.

Keywords:
Telecoupling; Energy Footprint; Carbon Footprint; Greenhouse Gases; Organics