The carbon point values for Bon Appétit Management Company's Low Carbon Diet Calculator are based on data analyzed by scientists at Ecotrust. They looked at over 40 peer-reviewed studies that used life cycle assessment. Here is a summary of the methodology and limitations of the research.
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to outline methods and results from a study to provide estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production, distribution and cooking of food items used in Bon Appétit Management Company’s Low Carbon Diet program that was announced by the company in April 2007. As part of that program, which includes procurement, operational and educational elements, the Bon Appétit Management Company Foundation is developing a Low Carbon Diet Calculator the goal of which is to (1) serve as a tool to educate the general public about how their informed food choices can be one of many personal choices to lower their carbon footprint, and (2) catalyze future research, especially for North American production systems, to populate this tool with a more robust set of food options. The purpose of this document is to outline the methods and assumptions of the work undertaken.
