Structure and pattern of food consumption in Italian household: an analysis of impact on climate change and land use

The environmental impacts of food consumption of Italian households in 2011 have been calculated adopting an Environmentally Extended Input-Output Analysis, using EXIOBASE v3 as the underpinning database for the assessment. Because of the structure of such database, it is possible to divide domestic and imported final demand. Climate change and Land use related impacts are calculated then matched with household expenditures for the same year. The food consumption in an average Italian household for 2011 results in a total Climate change of 4237 kg CO2eq and in a total Land use impact of 10 kg Cdeficit. There are limitations due to a non-perfect match of food product groups in EXIOBASE and Italian National Statistics. Nevertheless, with this approach it is possible to investigate environmental impacts in relation to expenditure patterns of the families.