Public health nutritionDec 30, 2014

Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Diets in the Netherlands Linked to Food Choices, Energy, and Nutrient Intake

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 29, 2026

Abstract

The average greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) of daily diets in the Netherlands ranges from 3.2 kg to 4.8 kg CO2-equivalents depending on gender.

Girls have an average GHGE of 3.2 kg CO2e, while boys, women, and men have averages of 3.6 kg, 3.7 kg, and 4.8 kg CO2e, respectively.
Meat and cheese contribute approximately 40% and drinks about 20% to daily GHGE.
Significant variations in dietary environmental loads exist within different age and gender groups.
Individuals with higher GHGE diets tend to consume more food and drinks compared to those with lower GHGE diets of the same sex and age.
Key factors distinguishing high-GHGE diets include higher consumption of meat, cheese, dairy, and specific drinks like soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.
Higher GHGE diets are associated with increased saturated fat intake and decreased fiber intake.

Simplified

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) of diets in Dutch girls, boys, women and men and to explore associations with diet composition.

DESIGN: Descriptive analyses for the total population as well as stratified for gender, age and dietary environmental load.

SETTING: The Netherlands.

SUBJECTS: Dutch children and adults aged 7-69 years (n 3818).

RESULTS: The GHGE of daily diets was on average 3·2 kg CO2-equivalents (CO2e) for girls, 3·6 kg CO2e for boys, 3·7 kg CO2e for women and 4·8 kg CO2e for men. Meat and cheese contributed about 40 % and drinks (including milk and alcoholic drinks) 20 % to daily GHGE. Considerable differences in environmental loads of diets existed within age and gender groups. Persons with higher-GHGE diets consumed more (in quantity of foods and especially drinks) than their counterparts of a similar sex and age with low-GHGE diets. Major differences between high- and low-GHGE diets were in meat, cheese and dairy consumption as well as in soft drinks (girls, boys and women) and alcoholic drinks (men). Of those, differences in meat consumption determined the differences in GHGE most. Diets with higher GHGE were associated with higher saturated fat intake and lower fibre intake

CONCLUSIONS: GHGE of daily diets in the Netherlands is between 3 and 5 kg CO2e, with considerable differences between individuals. Meat, dairy and drinks contribute most to GHGE. The insights of the study may be used in developing (age- and gender-specific) food-based dietary guidelines that take into account both health and sustainability aspects.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Diets in the Netherlands Linked to Food Choices, Energy, and Nutrient Intake

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