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Carbon footprint of rice
Rice has a footprint of about 4.0 kg CO2e per kilogram (400 g per 100 g). See how it compares and a lower-impact swap.
How rice compares
At about 4.0 kg of CO2-equivalent per kilogram, rice ranks 10 of 24 foods on this list, where number one is the highest-impact. That is roughly 10 times the footprint of the lowest-impact foods here, such as apples, citrus and root vegetables. It is lower than chicken (about 6 kg/kg).
A lower-impact swap
Potatoes, pasta and other grains have a smaller footprint (flooded paddies release methane).
Where it sits on the scale
| Food | Group | ≈ kg CO2e / kg |
|---|---|---|
| Farmed fish | Seafood | 5.0 |
| Eggs | Protein | 4.5 |
| ➤ Rice | Staple | 4.0 |
| Milk | Dairy | 3.0 |
| Tofu | Protein | 3.0 |
A median estimate that varies widely by farm and method — a guide, not a precise figure for a particular product.
Source: Poore, J. & Nemecek, T. (2018), Science 360, 987–992. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the carbon footprint of rice?
About 4.0 kg of CO2-equivalent per kilogram, or roughly 400 g per 100 g — a median estimate across the whole supply chain.
What is a lower-impact alternative to rice?
Potatoes, pasta and other grains have a smaller footprint (flooded paddies release methane).
Track the food, mind the footprint
TempoLife logs what you eat and its nutrition — an easy place to try lower-impact swaps.