Nutrition labels might soon have company: carbon footprints.
Major grocery chains in Europe — and increasingly in the U.S. — are experimenting with carbon labeling to inform shoppers about the environmental impact of their food choices.
From oat milk to beef jerky, products may soon display estimated CO₂ emissions per serving, measured in grams — similar to how calories or fat are listed today.
“This is about empowering consumers to make sustainable decisions,” says Priya Khatri, a climate policy advisor. “Many people have no idea how much climate impact their diet has.”
Swedish brand Oatly was one of the first to adopt carbon labeling across its product line. Now, major players like Nestlé, Walmart, and Whole Foods are watching closely as consumer demand rises.
But critics argue that without a standardized measurement system, these labels could mislead or create confusion. The Carbon Trust and Climatiq are two organizations working on verification protocols.
The big question?
Will shoppers actually change their habits — or will carbon numbers become just more noise in an already crowded label?
