What are net zero foods and why are they important?

January 8, 2026 •

4 min read

The food system is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for up to one-third of the total. In response, the concept of net zero foods has emerged, describing products that balance their total emissions with efforts to offset or remove them from the atmosphere. This approach is central to mitigating the food industry's climate impact and creating a more resilient future.

Quick Summary

This article explores the definition and significance of net zero foods, detailing how they are achieved through sustainable practices, supply chain efficiency, and offsetting. It also distinguishes between net zero and carbon neutral foods, providing guidance for consumers seeking to reduce their environmental impact.

Key Points

Definition of Net Zero Foods: Net zero foods balance the greenhouse gas emissions from their entire life cycle with an equivalent amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere.
Emphasis on Reduction: Unlike carbon neutral foods, net zero prioritizes deep emissions cuts across all scopes (including the supply chain) before using high-quality removal offsets as a last resort.
Sustainable Agriculture: Regenerative farming techniques like cover cropping, reduced tillage, and efficient water management are key strategies for cutting agricultural emissions and sequestering carbon in soil.
Supply Chain Optimization: Reducing 'food miles' through optimized logistics, using renewable energy in processing, and adopting sustainable packaging are crucial for minimizing value chain emissions.
Informed Consumer Choices: Consumers can drive demand for net zero foods by seeking transparent labeling, supporting eco-conscious brands, and reducing their own food waste.
Beyond Offsetting: Net zero is a higher ambition than carbon neutrality, demanding systemic transformation rather than simply balancing emissions with credits.

The Core Principles of Net Zero Foods

Net zero foods are products for which the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their entire life cycle—from farm to fork—are reduced to a minimum and any remaining, unavoidable emissions are counterbalanced by carbon removal projects. This is a more rigorous and holistic approach than carbon neutrality, which often relies more heavily on less effective offsets rather than deep emission cuts. The journey to net zero involves a comprehensive strategy that addresses emissions across three key areas, known as Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Scopes of Emissions in Food Production

Scope 1: Direct Emissions: These are emissions from owned or controlled sources, such as fuel combustion in farm vehicles or processing machinery. Companies work to reduce these by transitioning to renewable energy, like solar or wind power, and updating equipment.
Scope 2: Indirect Emissions from Energy: This includes GHG emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling. A company can reduce Scope 2 emissions by switching to 100% renewable electricity sources or investing in on-site clean energy.
Scope 3: Value Chain Emissions: By far the most challenging to track and reduce, Scope 3 emissions encompass all other indirect emissions. For food products, this includes farming practices, transportation, packaging, and even the end-of-life disposal of waste. Deep decarbonization of Scope 3 is what distinguishes a net zero commitment.

Strategies for Creating Net Zero Foods

Producers can implement a variety of strategies to drive down the carbon footprint of their products. These initiatives target every stage of the food's journey.

Sustainable Farming Practices

Regenerative agriculture techniques are foundational to producing net zero foods. These practices focus on soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

Improved Soil Management: Techniques like reduced tillage, cover cropping, and crop rotation enhance soil organic matter, which increases the ground's ability to store carbon.
Efficient Water Use: Employing technologies like precision agriculture and alternative irrigation methods minimizes the energy needed for water pumping, especially for water-intensive crops.
Smart Nutrient Management: The "4Rs" of nutrient management—using the right source, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place—boosts efficiency and reduces the emissions associated with fertilizer production and application.

Processing and Manufacturing Efficiency

Once food leaves the farm, emissions can be cut further through process optimization.

Renewable Energy Sources: Using solar, wind, or hydropower for processing plants and factories is a direct way to reduce a product's embedded carbon.
Waste-to-Energy Systems: Anaerobic digesters can convert food waste and by-products into biogas, which can then power facilities, replacing fossil fuel use.
Reduced Food Loss and Waste: Smart inventory management and repurposing by-products minimizes waste, avoiding the potent methane emissions that occur in landfills.

Supply Chain and Packaging Innovations

The entire supply chain, from transport to packaging, is a critical area for carbon reduction.

Optimized Logistics: Moving from air freight to more efficient modes like rail or sea, and optimizing delivery routes for full truckloads, significantly reduces transport emissions.
Sustainable Packaging: Using lighter-weight, renewable, or reusable materials can lower packaging's environmental impact. Innovative, single-material packaging also simplifies recycling for consumers.

Carbon Offsetting and Removals

For the small percentage of emissions that cannot be eliminated, businesses invest in high-quality carbon removal projects. This is a last-resort step, taken only after all feasible reductions have been made. Examples include verified reforestation projects or emerging technologies like direct air capture.

Comparison: Net Zero vs. Carbon Neutral Foods

Understanding the distinction between these two terms is crucial for informed consumer choice.


Feature	Net Zero Foods	Carbon Neutral Foods
Focus	Reducing ALL GHG emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) to near-zero before offsetting residual emissions.	Balancing a specific amount of CO2 emissions, often just from direct operations, through purchasing offsets.
Emissions Scope	Covers all GHGs across the entire value chain (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), including farming, transport, and waste.	Typically focuses only on Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with Scope 3 often excluded.
Use of Offsets	Uses offsets sparingly, for genuinely unavoidable residual emissions, and favors high-quality carbon REMOVAL projects.	Can rely heavily on offsets to balance emissions without deep internal reductions.
Ambition	High. Aligned with science-based targets and the Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5°C.	Lower. Can be seen as a stepping stone but does not guarantee the systemic changes needed to meet climate goals.

The Consumer's Role in Driving Change

Your purchasing decisions hold significant power in encouraging the food industry toward net zero. By prioritizing foods with clear sustainability credentials, you help shift market demand.

Demand Transparency: Look for products that provide clear information about their carbon footprint and what actions they have taken to achieve net zero status. Be wary of greenwashing that lacks verifiable data.
Support Innovators: Seek out and support companies that are transparently investing in renewable energy, regenerative farming, and circular economy initiatives.
Reduce Your Own Impact: Simple household changes, like minimizing food waste, buying local and seasonal produce, and composting, further complement these industry efforts.

Conclusion: A Collaborative Effort for a Sustainable Food System

The transition to a net zero food system requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders: farmers adopting regenerative techniques, manufacturers investing in clean energy, and consumers making conscious choices. By understanding what are net zero foods and the robust processes behind them, we can collectively push for a more resilient and climate-friendly future for food production. The path toward net zero is about systemic change, not just simple carbon accounting, and it is a critical step in addressing the climate crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Net zero requires deep emissions reductions across a company's entire value chain, including Scopes 1, 2, and 3, using offsets only for minimal residual emissions. Carbon neutral often relies more heavily on offsets without deep cuts, and may not account for the full value chain.

Net zero certification is focused on environmental impact, not nutrition. However, many of the practices involved, such as reduced use of chemical pesticides and a focus on plant-based proteins, can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable diet.

Regenerative agriculture is fundamental because it focuses on practices that improve soil health and sequester carbon, directly reducing the emissions associated with farming and enhancing the ecosystem.

Look for products certified by reputable third-party organizations that align with science-based targets, like the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). These certifications often require extensive documentation and independent verification of emissions and reductions.

Not necessarily. While buying local can reduce transportation emissions, or 'food miles,' a product's overall carbon footprint depends on factors like farming methods, energy use in processing, and packaging. A locally produced product with unsustainable farming methods may have a higher footprint than a responsibly produced one transported over a longer distance.

Companies tackle Scope 3 emissions by engaging with suppliers to use sustainable ingredients, investing in efficient transportation and logistics, and innovating with eco-friendly packaging. Education and engagement with consumers on waste reduction are also key.

After achieving maximum emissions reductions, the minimal remaining emissions are balanced by high-quality carbon removal offsets. This can include investments in reforestation projects or advanced carbon capture technologies that actively remove CO2 from the atmosphere.