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Carbon footprint of root vegetables
Root vegetables has a footprint of about 0.4 kg CO2e per kilogram (40 g per 100 g). See how it compares and a lower-impact swap.
How root vegetables compares
At about 0.4 kg of CO2-equivalent per kilogram, root vegetables ranks 23 of 24 foods on this list, where number one is the highest-impact. That puts it among the lower-impact foods on the list, close to fruit and vegetables. It is lower than chicken (about 6 kg/kg).
A lower-impact swap
Among the lowest-impact foods you can eat.
Where it sits on the scale
| Food | Group | ≈ kg CO2e / kg |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | Fruit | 0.4 |
| Citrus fruit | Fruit | 0.4 |
| ➤ Root vegetables | Vegetable | 0.4 |
| Nuts | Protein | 0.4 |
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 root vegetables?
About 0.4 kg of CO2-equivalent per kilogram, or roughly 40 g per 100 g — a median estimate across the whole supply chain.
What is a lower-impact alternative to root vegetables?
Among the lowest-impact foods you can eat.
Track the food, mind the footprint
TempoLife logs what you eat and its nutrition — an easy place to try lower-impact swaps.