How much CO2 does potatoes - crisps produce?

About 4.047 kg CO₂e per kg, measured across the supply chain. That is roughly the same as driving 24 km in an average petrol car.

What drives the footprint of potatoes - crisps?

Processing is the largest contributor at 3.72 kg CO₂e, about 92% of the total. Transport is only 0.106 kg — which is why what you eat matters far more than how far it travelled.

Does how potatoes - crisps is produced change its footprint?

Yes, substantially. Across 5 production methods in this dataset the farm-gate emissions range from 0.058 to 0.074 kg CO₂e — a difference of 22%.

Where does this data come from?

The WRAP UK Food & Drink Emission Factor Database v2.0, which aggregates peer-reviewed life-cycle assessments. This product's figures come from Frankowska et al..

The carbon footprint of potatoes - crisps

Potatoes - crisps emits about 4.047 kg CO₂e per kg. Below is where that figure actually comes from — every stage of the chain, not a single headline number.

Where the carbon comes from

Processing: 3.72 kg; 92%; Turning the raw product into food: milling, refining, slaughter, curing.
Packaging: 0.221 kg; 5%; Producing the packaging it reaches you in.
Transport: 0.106 kg; 3%; Moving it from farm to processor to shop.

Production method

How it is grown changes the number by 22%

These are 5 separately assessed production systems for the same product. Emissions are farm-gate — the part the grower controls — and range from 0.058 to 0.074 kg CO₂e. A label on a shelf almost never tells you which one you are holding.

Starch potato, conventional, national average, at farm gatelowest0.058
Ware potato, conventional, variety mix, national average, at farm gate0.063
Ware potato, conventional, for fresh market, other varieties, at farm gate0.064
Ware potato, conventional, for industrial use, at farm gate0.064
Ware potato, conventional, for fresh market, firm flesh varieties, at farm gate0.074

kg CO₂e per kg, cradle to farm gate. Farm-gate figures exclude processing, packaging and transport, so they sit below the full total above.

Lower-carbon alternatives

Each emits less than half as much as potatoes - crisps.

Pork, way leg, without rind, fat and bone, raw

2.013

kg CO₂e

50% lower

Custard, Aluminium Tin

1.991

kg CO₂e

51% lower

Canned peas, shelled (from dried peas!)

1.912

kg CO₂e

53% lower

Olives, PE Tray with PE Film

1.899

kg CO₂e

53% lower

Similar products

Pickled Beetroot · 3.524 Potatoes - chips · 2.613 Canned carrots · 2.03 Frozen carrots · 1.382 Processed carrots · 0.952 Cassava and Other Roots · 0.948

Common questions

How much CO2 does potatoes - crisps produce?: About 4.047 kg CO₂e per kg, measured across the supply chain. That is roughly the same as driving 24 km in an average petrol car.
What drives the footprint of potatoes - crisps?: Processing is the largest contributor at 3.72 kg CO₂e, about 92% of the total. Transport is only 0.106 kg — which is why what you eat matters far more than how far it travelled.
Does how potatoes - crisps is produced change its footprint?: Yes, substantially. Across 5 production methods in this dataset the farm-gate emissions range from 0.058 to 0.074 kg CO₂e — a difference of 22%.
Where does this data come from?: The WRAP UK Food & Drink Emission Factor Database v2.0, which aggregates peer-reviewed life-cycle assessments. This product's figures come from Frankowska et al..

Figures from the WRAP UK Food & Drink Emission Factor Database v2.0, which aggregates published life-cycle assessments; this product's data originates from Frankowska et al., for UK. Real values vary by farm, region and method — treat these as the shape of the problem, not a measurement of any one item on your shelf.

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