GOVERNMENT ACTION NEEDED OVER INCREASING FOOD MILES - HUHNE

1.25.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 20th Jul 2006

Commenting on figures released today showing that food transport miles and emissions have hit record levels, Chris Huhne MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, said:

"Our own research has revealed that supermarket lorries travel the equivalent of almost four return trips to the moon everyday. This highlights the need for government action to encourage more local supply.

"Today's consumers want to know that supermarkets are taking a responsible attitude towards the environment. This must include trying to reduce the distances that our food travels before it reaches our dinner plates.

"Supermarkets are now a major part of our communities. With one supermarket for every 10,000 people, the big chains have a duty to provide environmentally-friendly alternatives by supporting local producers."

ENDS

Notes to editors

There is now 1 supermarket per 10,000 people in Britain

The big nine chains cover an area equivalent to 15,000 football pitches

Customers spend up to £15 billion on food packaging every year

In 21 years, supermarkets will have provided their customers with enough plastic bags to cover the whole of England

Supermarket lorries travel 670 million miles per year

Liberal Democrat Research from Supermarket Report by Norman Baker MP

http://www.cix.co.uk/~normanbaker/downloads/Supermarkets%20Report%20Final%20Version.doc

Draft Food Industry Sustainability Strategy:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/fiss/index.htm

DEFRA Statement on Food Miles today states:

CO2 emissions caused by food transport for the UK have hit their highest levels - a combination of road and air "food miles" generated nearly 18,000 kilo-tonnes (18 million metric tons) of carbon dioxide in 2004 - up 6% on the previous year, and followed a 15% rise in emissions over the decade to 2002.

HGVs clocked up 8,986 million food kilometres (5,616 million food miles) both on UK roads or travelling en route from abroad in 2004.

Air freight of food rose by 2% between 2003 and 2004 to hit 30 million kilometres (19.75 million miles)

While air transport accounted for just 0.1% of total "food kilometres" in 2004 it generated 13% of CO2 emissions from food transport.