Whether it’s slashing our rainforests or burning coal, there are numerous culprits to blame for Earth’s climate change problem.
But a new study claims there’s another unexpected factor at play – and you may be surprised to know that it’s sandwiches.
Researchers at 100Green have revealed a top 10 list of the worst carbon-emitting meal deals in a bid to help Brits have a ‘greener’ lunch.
Believe it or not, prawn mayo with crisps and a drink is the worst of them all – pumping out the same carbon footprint as driving 53miles from London to Brighton (14.82kg of CO2).
The beloved BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) was a close runner-up, emitting the same volume of carbon produced by a 100W blub left on for almost 220 hours (9.34kg).
Researchers at 100Green have revealed a top 10 list of the worst carbon-emitting meal deals in a bid to help Brits have a ‘greener’ lunch
A new study by 100Green has revealed a list of sandwiches with the worst carbon footprint
And if you thought ham and cheese was a simple but safe combination, think again, as this meal deal ranked third with 8.63kg of carbon produced.
‘As busy people, one of our biggest challenges is acknowledging the trade-off between convenience and sustainability,’ researchers said.
‘But let’s face it, when we’re tired and hungry, we tend to reach for the easiest option. Usually the one with convenient, disposable packaging that needs no preparation to consume.
‘Whilst we acknowledge that there are many sustainable considerations to be had when choosing your lunch (Vegan? Line caught fish? Recycled packaging?), we were keen to keep our calculations as straightforward as possible, with the simple objective to make us stop and consider the impact that our lunch choices have on the environment.’
As part of their calculations, researchers collated data on the most popular sandwich and wrap choices across the UK.
For the sake of easy comparisons, these were combined with Walkers crisps and Coca Cola in every case, which are thought to be the nation’s favourite snacks.
Chicken and bacon, ham, and all day breakfast also ranked fourth to sixth respectively, pumping out more than 5kg of CO2 in all cases.
Though researchers claim that chicken and avocado were actually the most sustainable ingredient options available – producing 2.8kg of CO2 per meal deal.
This comes at a time when avocadoes are at the centre of debate, with experts often pointing to the sheer volume of water it takes to produce them.
The beloved BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) was a close runner-up, emitting the same volume of carbon produced by a 100W blub left on for almost 220 hours (9.34kg)
Though in 2021, the World Avocado Organisation slammed British chefs who had sought to veto these beloved fruits, stressing that meat is far worse for the environment.
‘You’d still have to have your lightbulb on for 66 hours to clock up the same emissions though, just over a weekend,’ 100Green said.
‘But that is a far more respectable 2.7 solid days of leaving your lightbulb on, compared to over two weeks (14.3 days) for the prawn mayo sandwich filling.’
To be more sustainable at lunch time, researchers recommend planning your food shops ahead of time and eating leftovers instead of classic meal deals.
‘Not all of us can finish our lunch sometimes, and if we don’t want to save it for later, it is essential to know where to dispose of our leftovers,’ they added.
‘The UK wastes 6.6 million tonnes of food every year, and 4.5 million tonnes of it is wasted due to either lack of knowledge around proper food disposal, lack of time and lack of understanding of the impact.’
Sandwich | Calories |
---|---|
Tesco Cheese Triple Sandwich | 618 |
Tesco Sausage Bacon & & Egg Triple | 570 |
Tesco Chicken Triple Sandwich | 521 |
Tesco The Chicken Club Sandwich | 504 |
Tesco Smoked Ham And Mature Cheddar Sub | 488 |
Tesco Roast Chicken Bacon & Stuffing Sandwich | 483 |
Tesco Free Range Egg Mayonnaise Sandwich | 481 |
Tesco Roast Chicken Mozzarella & Pesto Sandwich 223G | 468 |
Tesco Egg & Bacon Sandwich | 452 |
Tesco Cheese & Pickle Sandwich | 450 |
Tesco Bbq Chicken, Bacon & Cheese Sandwich | 449 |
Tesco Pulled Beef & Red Leicester Sandwich | 436 |
Tesco Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwich | 435 |
Tesco Cheese & Onion Sandwich | 432 |
Tesco Plant Chef Falafel Houmous Wrap | 425 |
Tesco Chicken Tikka With Onion Bhaji Wrap | 425 |
Tesco Southern Fried Chicken Wrap (C) | 421 |
Tesco Smoked Bacon & Ketchup Sandwich | 418 |
Tesco Chicken Bacon & Lettuce Sandwich | 418 |
Tesco Deli Meat Feast Sub | 417 |
Tesco Bbq Chicken Wrap | 417 |
Tesco Roast Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich | 411 |
Tesco Ploughmans Sandwich | 408 |
Tesco Smoked Ham & Cheddar Sandwich | 405 |
Tesco Chicken Salad Sub | 402 |
Tesco Chicken & Chorizo Sandwich | 394 |
Tesco Southern Fried Chicken Sub | 391 |
Tesco Tuna Crunch Sub | 387 |
Tesco Ham, Cheese Coleslaw Sandwich | 381 |
Tesco Ham, Cheese Coleslaw Sandwich | 381 |
Tesco Chicken Salad Sandwich | 361 |
Tesco Hoisin Duck Wrap | 361 |
Tesco Cheese Sandwich No Mayonnaise | 359 |
Tesco Tikka Chicken & Mango Chutney Sandwich | 359 |
Tesco Plant Chef Roasted Vegetable & Pesto Wrap | 354 |
Tesco Plant Chef Houmous Harissa Vegetable Sandwich | 353 |
Tesco Egg & Cress Sandwich | 353 |
Tesco Chicken & Bacon Mayonnaise Sandwich | 338 |
Tesco Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich | 335 |
Tesco Tuna & Cucumber Sandwich | 327 |
Tesco Smoked Ham & Mustard Sandwich | 325 |
Tesco Tuna Crunch Sandwich | 323 |
Tesco Prawn Mayonnaise Sandwich | 318 |
Tesco Tuna & Sweetcorn Sandwich | 317 |
Tesco Salmon With Sriracha Mayonnaise & Onions 143G | 288 |
Tesco Just Ham Sandwich | 248 |
Tesco Hoisin Duck Sushi 57G | 82 |
Sainsbury’s Brie, Bacon & Chilli Chutney Sandwich | 580 |
Sainsbury’s Vegan Falafel & Houmous Wrap | 549 |
Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Southern Fried No Chicken Wrap | 548 |
Sainsbury’s Southern Fried Chicken Wrap | 546 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap | 519 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Ham & Cheese Sub Roll | 506 |
Sainsbury’s Mozzarella, Tomato, Mayonnaise & Basil Pesto Tortilla Wrap | 498 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Cheddar, Red Leicester & Red Onion Sandwich | 484 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Tomato & Basil Chicken Pasta Salad 300g | 474 |
Sainsbury’s All Day Breakfast Sandwich | 472 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Southern Fried Chicken Pasta Salad 300g | 469 |
Sainsbury’s Bacon & Free Range Egg Sandwich | 465 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Tuna & Sweetcorn Pasta Salad 300g | 463 |
Sainsbury’s Red Leicester Ploughmans Sandwich | 457 |
Sainsbury’s Bacon Butty with Tomato Sauce Sandwich | 457 |
Sainsbury’s Cheese & Tomato Pasta Salad Pot 300g | 453 |
Sainsbury’s Chicken Salad Sandwich | 438 |
Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Vegan No Chicken Caesar Wrap | 433 |
Sainsbury’s Oakwood Smoked Ham & Cheddar Sandwich | 427 |
Sainsbury’s Chicken & Maple Cured Bacon Sandwich | 416 |
Sainsbury’s Vegan Mexican Style Bean Wrap | 415 |
Sainsbury’s Chicken Wth Pork, Sage & Onion Stuffing Sandwich | 414 |
Sainsbury’s Maple Cured Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwich | 408 |
Sainsbury’s Cheese Sandwich, No Mayo | 397 |
Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Vegan Hoisin No Duck Wrap | 396 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese on Oatmeal Bread | 387 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Prawn Layered Pasta Salad 300g | 379 |
Sainsbury’s Seafood Cocktail Sandwich | 377 |
Sainsbury’s Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich | 370 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Spicy Chicken Pasta Salad 275g | 369 |
Sainsbury’s Beef, Horseradish Mayonnaise Sandwich | 366 |
Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers Vacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwiches | 365 |
Sainsbury’s Tuna & Sweetcorn Sandwich | 362 |
Sainsbury’s Egg & Cress Sandwich | 359 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Vegan Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad 225g | 338 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil Pasta Salad 225g | 335 |
Sainsbury’s Prawn Mayo Sandwich | 329 |
Sainsbury’s Tuna Mayo Sandwich | 318 |
Sainsbury’s Smoked Ham & Mustard Sandwich | 307 |
Sainsbury’s Ham Sandwich, No Mayo | 272 |
Sainsbury’s On the Go Fish Sushi Selection 150g | 260 |
Sainsbury’s Potato & Egg Salad 300g | 244 |
Sainsbury’s Vegetable Sushi Medium 148g | 237 |
Sainsbury’s Chicken Ceasar Salad | 205 |
ASDA Chicken, Bacon & Sweetcorn Pasta Salad | 548 |
ASDA Cheese & Tomato Pasta | 539 |
ASDA Ham & Cheese with West Country Mature Cheddar Roll | 514 |
ASDA Cheese & Onion Sandwich | 508 |
ASDA Chicken & Bacon with Beechwood Smoked Bacon Roll | 506 |
ASDA Cheddar Ploughman’s with West Country Mature Cheddar Roll | 493 |
ASDA BLT Sandwich | 489 |
ASDA Cheese & Tomato Sandwich | 466 |
ASDA Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap | 459 |
ASDA Chicken & Bacon Sandwich | 425 |
ASDA Ham & Cheese Sandwich | 419 |
ASDA Cheddar Cheese Sandwich | 418 |
ASDA Southern Fried Chicken Wrap | 413 |
ASDA Shredded Duck with Hoisin Sauce Wrap | 387 |
ASDA Chickenless Tikka & Onion Bhaji Wrap | 386 |
ASDA Tuna & Sweetcorn Sandwich | 383 |
ASDA Chicken Salad Sandwich | 382 |
ASDA OMV! Deliciously Vegan VLT Sandwich | 380 |
ASDA Prawn Mayonnaise Sandwich | 369 |
ASDA Egg & Cress Sandwich | 353 |
ASDA OMV! Deliciously Vegan No Prawn Cocktail Sandwich | 321 |
ASDA Fish Sushi Selection | 232 |
Morrisons Chicken Caesar Wrap | 493 |
Morrisons Katsu Chicken Wrap | 484 |
Morrisons Mexican Bean Wrap | 456 |
Morrisons Chicken & Bacon Sandwich | 431 |
Morrisons Cheese And Onion Sandwich | 411 |
Morrisons Southern Fried Chicken Wrap | 411 |
Morrisons Cheese & Pickle Sandwich | 405 |
Morrisons Ham & Cheese Sandwich | 396 |
Morrisons Deep Filled Blt Sandwich | 390 |
Morrisons Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich | 366 |
Morrisons Gluten Free Chicken Sandwich | 364 |
Morrisons Plant Revolution No Hoisin Duck Wrap | 360 |
Morrisons Egg Mayo & Cress Sandwich | 360 |
Morrisons Chicken Salad Sandwich | 348 |
Morrisons Chicken Tikka Sandwich | 347 |
Morrisons Buffalo Chicken Sandwich | 333 |
Morrisons Nourish Korean Chicken Sandwich | 314 |
Morrisons Vegan BLT | 313 |
Morrisons Prawn Mayonnaise Sandwich | 304 |
Morrisons Tuna & Sweetcorn Sandwich | 299 |
Co-op American Menu Southern Style Fried Chicken with Coleslaw & BBQ Sauce on a Chilli Wrap | 495 |
Co-op Egg & Bacon Sandwich | 474 |
Co-op Greek Menu Halloumi Salad Wrap | 474 |
Co-op GRO Chick’n & Stuffin’ | 465 |
Co-op Spinach & Pine Nut Falafel Wrap | 434 |
Co-op Chicken & Bacon with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 425 |
Co-op Hoisin Duck | 416 |
Co-op Ham & Cheese | 411 |
Co-op Tuna Crunch Sub Roll | 411 |
Co-op Mexican Style Bean & Cheese White Tortilla Wrap | 409 |
Co-op Ham & Cheese with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 403 |
Co-op Egg & Cress with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 399 |
Co-op Chicken & Stuffing with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 395 |
Co-op Bacon Lettuce & Tomato with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 379 |
Co-op Simply Cheddar Cheese with Mayonnaise on White Bread | 372 |
Co-op Tuna & Sweetcorn with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 340 |
Co-op British Chicken with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 325 |
Co-op Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich | 309 |
Co-op Simply Cheese & Red Onion with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 296 |
Co-op Tuna with Mayonnaise on White Bread | 296 |
Co-op Prawns with Mayonnaise on Malted Bread | 294 |
Pret Posh Cheddar & Pickle Baguette | 651 |
Pret Chicken Caesar Bacon Baguette | 596 |
Pret Wiltshire-Cured Ham & Greve | 596 |
Pret Chicken Salad Baguette | 595 |
Pret Avo, Olive & Toms Baguette | 553 |
Pret Italian Prosciutto Baguette | 546 |
Pret Ham & Cheese | 530 |
Pret Chicken Salad | 520 |
Pret Tuna Mayo Baguette | 514 |
Pret Mature Cheddar & Pickle | 506 |
Pret BLT | 506 |
Pret Plant Ploughmans Baguette | 496 |
Pret Brie, Tomato & Basil Baguette | 450 |
Pret Houmous & Veg | 380 |
Pret Ham Salad | 378 |
Pret Egg Mayo | 372 |
Pret Tuna & Cucumber | 370 |
Pret Slim Pole & Line Caught Tuna Mayo & Cucumber | 257 |