By
Teresa Mersereau

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In an average year, over 25,000 tons of pears are consumed globally, making them an immensely popular fruit. They can be used in anything from elegant French pastries (Tarte Bourdaloue, anyone?) to delicious juices. But there are also many practices that can be unethical or unsustainable about the pear industry. So we had to ask: Is eating pears ethical and sustainable?

In this article, we will assess both the ethical and sustainability practices of the pear industry. Through these two lenses, you will be able to gain in-depth knowledge of the overall impacts of the pears that you eat!

Here’s How We Assessed the Ethics & Sustainability of Pears

The Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) is one of the ways we measure the externalities of our actions, like the consumption of pears. It is a holistic assessment based on the potential impact of food and agriculture operations on the environment and people. Those impacts are changes in our environment that can have adverse effects on the air, land, water, fish, and wildlife or the inhabitants of the ecosystem.

“Ethical: The discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and morally right and wrong”

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ethics and sustainability are closely interconnected concepts that share a common objective: the well-being and preservation of our planet, including all its life and future generations.

“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”

Oxford Dictionary

Basically, all goods and services you buy—including pears—leave an impact on people, animals, and our environment. And when it comes to food in general—and pears in specific—the following are key factors for their ethics and sustainability:

• Social and economic conditions: The ethics of food crucially depends on the social and economic conditions of the farmers who grow them. Especially on fair labor practices, including fair wages and safe working conditions.
• Seasonality: Eating seasonally is a lever of sustainability. The two key reasons are that seasonal food is more likely grown in their “natural growing season” without using greenhouses, and also more likely to be grown locally.
• Land requirements: Large parts of the world that were once covered by forests and wildlands are now used for agriculture. 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually and 50% of the world’s habitable land is now used for agriculture. This loss of natural habitat has been the main driver for reducing the world’s biodiversity. 
• Water footprint: 70% of global freshwater is now used for agricultural purposes. By assessing the water footprint of a particular food, we can determine how our limited freshwater resources are being consumed and polluted.
• Pesticide and fertilizer usage: Pesticides and fertilizers provide a range of agricultural benefits. However, numerous studies link pesticides and fertilizers to serious effects on human health, along with disruptions to vital ecosystems and the spread of aquatic dead zones.
• Carbon footprint: The carbon footprint is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Today, food production accounts for over a quarter (26%) of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Waste generation: Food and its packaging account for almost 45% of the materials landfilled in the US alone. And packaging sent to landfills, especially when made from plastics, does not degrade quickly or, in some cases, at all.

To understand the overall ethics and sustainability of pears, we must assess each of their key factors. This Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) is a tool developed for assessing the impact of food and agriculture operations on the environment and people. And this tool helps us to evaluate whether eating pears is ethical & sustainable.

Here’s How Ethical & Sustainable Eating Pears Is

The overall ethics and sustainability of pears is moderately negative. The main factors that contribute to this are reports of child labor in the US, monoculture farming methods, the use of pesticides and nitrogen fertilizer, and styrofoam packaging. 

There are some positive aspects of pear production. For example, pear trees sequester carbon very well and require little to no irrigation. The industry also pays high wages to some seasonal workers. However, pear farming still causes a lot of damage in many other areas. 

So, let’s have a look at the ethics & sustainability impact of each key factor of pears!

Key Assessment Factors	Ethics & Sustainability
Social and economic conditions of pears	Pears’ social and economic conditions are very bad. This is because there have been reports of child labor within the US pear industry. However, wages for many pear workers are fairly decent compared to many other types of fruit farms.
Seasonality of pears	Pears’ seasonality is between September and January. Both in-season and out-of-season, they are predominantly grown in the US, making them fairly sustainable all year round.
Land requirements for pears	Pears’ land requirements are fairly low. However, the industry uses harmful monoculture farming methods and contributes to erosion. This means that they are moderately unsustainable at this stage.
Water footprint of pears	Pears have a moderate water requirement of 50 inches per year. However, because of where they grow, they don’t require irrigation.
Agrochemical usage for pears	Pears’ agrochemical usage is very high. This is worsened by the industries’ use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, which have particularly damaging qualities.
Carbon footprint of pears	Pears have a moderate carbon footprint of 0.23kg (0.52 lbs) of CO2e per pound of pears. This is mainly due to their high pesticide use, mechanized processing, intensive packaging needs, and poor recycling rates. Their carbon footprint is average compared to other fruits.
Waste generation of pears	Pears’ waste generation is high. The very low recycling rates of styrofoam and low composting rates of food waste mean pears’ waste generation is very unsustainable.

These are the overall summaries, but there is a lot more to the story. In the next few sections, we will dive deeper into each stage to illustrate to you all the important aspects of pears’ ethics & sustainability.

How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Social and Economic Conditions for Pears

Pears’ social and economic conditions are very bad. This is because there have been reports of child labor within the US pear industry. However, wages for many pear workers are fairly decent compared to many other types of fruit farms.

Everything we consume was made or harvested by somebody. In past centuries, this was often someone who lived in your community and who you might have even known personally. But through the rise of globalized distribution systems, we have become increasingly alienated from the people who make our food. This leaves a lot of room for exploitation and abuse, both of which are rampant in the food industry. Here, we will look at how the pear industry fares in relation to these ethical questions.

How ethical & sustainable are the social and economic conditions of growing pears?

• Are farmers paid fair wages to grow pears: Pear pickers are typically paid by the pound, earning a flat rate for every piece of fruit they pick. This works out to be a decent hourly wage, but often it also incentivizes workers to cut corners to make more money per hour, which can present a safety concern. 
• How safe are the working conditions to grow pears: Harvesting fruit from trees presents several workplace hazards. One of the most prominent ones is falling from ladders, especially when trying to reach faraway fruit. Incentivization to work faster increases this risk. 
• Are there reports of child or forced labor to grow pears: There have been some reports of children working on pear farms within the US. Not only is child labor inherently unethical, but it also means that there is an increased risk of workplace injury, especially on ladders, which are common in the pear industry. 
• What is the wider economic impact on the communities that grow pears: Many pear pickers within the US are migrant workers, due to staff shortages. Though these workers can make good money while they are employed (up to $200 per day), they also experience considerable instability due to the seasonal nature of the work. Migrant workers also face unique challenges, including substandard conditions, discrimination, and unstable visa status. 

In short, the reports of child labor mean that the pear industry in the US is very unethical. There are also health risks for workers and a prevalence of exploitation when it comes to migrant workers.

How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Seasonality for Pears

Pears’ seasonality is between September and January. Both in-season and out-of-season, they are predominantly grown in the US, making them fairly sustainable all year round. 

Every fruit has a natural season in which they grow, usually lasting a couple of months, which can range depending on the region. However, international demand for every kind of fruit is year-round. This demand is often met by importing fruits from tropical places which can grow year-round, or by growing them in greenhouses. Both of these methods use more resources and are thus less sustainable than conventional farming. Here, we will look at how the pear industry accommodates year-round demand.

How ethical & sustainable is it to grow pears in-season vs out-of-season?

• When is the natural season for growing and harvesting pears: Pears are in season in the fall/winter, from around September to January. This means that pears will be much more widely available in US supermarkets, and more likely to be locally-grown, during this time. 
• How are pears naturally grown in-season: In-season pears are typically grown on the west coast of the US, particularly California, Washington, and Oregon. This means that if you are buying your pears in-season, they will likely come from one of these states. 
• How are pears grown out-of-season: Though pears are in peak season between September and January, they are still available in the US outside of this season. Thus, even if you are buying out-of-season pears, they will still be fairly sustainable. 

In short, pears’ seasonality doesn’t have a major impact on their sustainability, since they can be grown in the US year-round. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Land Requirements for Pears

Pears’ land requirements are fairly low. However, the industry uses harmful monoculture farming methods and contributes to erosion. This means that they are moderately unsustainable at this stage. 

The growth stage has a major impact on fruits’ sustainability. The amount of land used, especially in relation to its expansion, the method with which they are grown, and their effect on surrounding land and wildlife are all important factors. In this section, we will look at the ways in which pears’ land usage affects their sustainability.

How ethical & sustainable are the land requirements for growing pears?

• What is the land usage of pears: Pear orchards can generally yield 40–50 tons of pears per hectare. This is an above-average yield for a fruit. For example, watermelons yield around 2–3 tons per hectare, strawberries up to 25 tons per hectare, and bananas up to 100. 
• Where and how are pears grown: Most pears are grown in the West Coast states of the US (California, Oregon, and Washington). Pears grow on trees in orchards. Pear trees have exceptional carbon-sequestering qualities, which is the process of capturing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the ground. This lowers their carbon footprint and thus raises their sustainability. 
• Are pears grown in monocultures or polycultures: Pears are primarily grown in monocultures. Monocultures are very damaging to the environment and so pears’ growing method is very unsustainable.

• How does the growing of pears affect soil fertility and erosion: Pear and other fruit trees can be prone to soil erosion, which is why many soil preservation methods have been undertaken by pear farmers. Soil erosion can severely damage the lands that are farmed on, and thus pears are very unsustainable at this stage. 
• How does the pear industry affect the loss of habitable land: The US produces roughly 700,000 tons of pears every year, which takes up roughly 14,000 hectares of land. This is a significant amount of land on the West Coast, and so pears’ land use is moderately unsustainable. 
• How does the pear industry affect wildlife and biodiversity: Monocultures are very damaging to biodiversity. They limit the growth of many important soil microbes and deplete pollinators of the diverse nutrients they need to thrive. This disrupts the whole ecosystem and so pears can cause a lot of environmental harm.

In short, pears’ contribution to soil erosion and their use of monoculture farming means that they are very unsustainable at this stage. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Water Footprint of Pears

Pears have a moderate water requirement of 50 inches per year. However, because of where they grow, they don’t require irrigation.

Water usage is one of the most important factors in a fruit’s sustainability. Practices like irrigation use significant resources and can cause pollution, and as such, factors like the amount of water used, where it is sourced, as well as the way they affect the water sources around them, are all important. Here, we will look at these different angles of pears’ water footprint.

How ethical & sustainable is the water footprint of growing pears?

• What is the overall water usage of pears: Pears have a water requirement of around 50 inches per year. This is a very average water requirement for a fruit. Therefore, their water footprint is moderate.
• What is the green water footprint of pears: The green water footprint is the amount of water from precipitation stored in the soil and used by plants for growth. Washington and Oregon are the two leading pear-producing states in the US. Washington gets up to 100 inches of rainfall per year, while Oregon gets up to 90 inches. These rainfall rates are well above pears’ water requirements, meaning that only about half the rainfall is being used up by pear agriculture. Therefore, their green water footprint is low. 
• What is the blue water footprint of pears: The blue water footprint is the amount of water sourced from surface (such as rivers or lakes) or groundwater resources. Since both Washington and Oregon get more than enough rain to cover pears’ water requirements, they have a very low blue water footprint. 
• What is the gray water footprint of pears: The gray water footprint is the amount of freshwater required to clean up water pollution to meet certain quality standards. Essentially, it’s the amount of water needed to make polluted water clean enough to be safe and healthy for both humans and the environment. Pears have higher-than-average pesticide usage. This means that there is a high amount of water needed to clean up their pesticide residue, raising their gray water footprint considerably. 
• How does the pear industry affect freshwater and ocean pollution: Pesticides are a major water polluter, especially in rainier climates, like Washington, where runoff is more common. Because they use a significant amount of pesticides, pears contribute significantly to freshwater and ocean pollution.

In short, pears’ lack of irrigation requirements means they don’t put a strain on water resources. However, their significant use of pesticides can be harmful to water sources.

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Agrochemical Usage for Pears

Pears’ agrochemical usage is very high. This is worsened by the industries’ use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, which have particularly damaging qualities.

Pesticides and fertilizers are agrochemicals that are very unsustainable and damaging to ecosystems. This is because they require resources to create and can easily run off into groundwater and soil systems. Here, we will look at how sustainable pears’ pesticide and fertilizer rates really are.

How ethical & sustainable is the agrochemical usage of growing pears?

• What is the pesticide usage of pears: Pears use more pesticides than the average fruit. Pesticides can cause many kinds of environmental damage, including poisoning surrounding wildlife, and leakages getting into soil and groundwater. 
• What is the fertilizer usage of pears: Pears need a mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer. While potassium is generally minimally invasive, phosphorus and nitrogen have been identified as very unsustainable.
• Are there any known issues connected to the agrochemical usage for pears: Both phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers have been associated with invasive algae growth, which can harm many kinds of aquatic life. 

In short, pears’ use of both significant pesticides, as well as harmful fertilizers like nitrogen and phosphorus means that they are very unsustainable at this stage. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Carbon Footprint of Pears

Pears have a moderate carbon footprint of 0.23kg (0.52 lbs) of CO₂e per pound of pears. This is mainly due to their high pesticide use, mechanized processing, intensive packaging needs, and poor recycling rates. Their carbon footprint is average compared to other fruits. 

Carbon footprint is one aspect of the overall sustainability of a fruit. It essentially measures how much carbon or other greenhouse gasses the production of fruits emits into the atmosphere. Emissions from product manufacturing, irrigation, transportation fuel, and landfills all add up to create the overall carbon footprint of a fruit. Let’s see how the carbon footprint of pears contributes to their overall sustainability.

How ethical & sustainable is the carbon footprint of pears?

• What is the overall carbon footprint of pears: The overall carbon footprint of pears is 0.23kg (0.52 lbs) of CO₂e per pound of pears. This means that for every pound of pears produced, 0.23kg of carbon is released into the atmosphere. This is an average carbon footprint among fruits. 
• What are the main contributors to the carbon footprint of pears: The main factors that contribute to pears’ carbon footprint are pesticide usage, styrofoam packaging, mechanized processing, and refrigerated transport. 
• Which life-cycle stage of pears has the highest carbon footprint: The portion of pears’ life cycle with the highest carbon footprint is processing and packaging. This is because this stage involves both mechanization and manufacturing of styrofoam packaging. 

In short, though pears’ carbon footprint is fairly average, there are still many parts of their manufacturing process that emit a lot of carbon. 

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Waste Generation of Pears

Pears’ waste generation is high. The very low recycling rates of styrofoam and low composting rates of food waste mean pears’ waste generation is very unsustainable.

When fruit waste, either in the form of packaging or organic materials, is disposed of, it can cause a lot of problems. Whether it’s damaging wildlife, getting into oceans, emitting methane, or dissolving into microplastics that contaminate groundwater, all these materials have their part to play. The sheer amount of waste we produce is reaching a crisis point and won’t be able to continue much longer. In this section, we will look at how sustainable pears’ waste generation is.

How ethical & sustainable is the waste generation of pears?

• What is the packaging of pears: Pears are often packaged in sectioned cardboard boxes, sometimes with individual styrofoam pockets around each pear, to keep them safe. Both cardboard and styrofoam are very unsustainable during their manufacturing process. Cardboard contributes heavily to deforestation and styrofoam has a history of causing hazardous waste runoff.
• How is the packaging of pears disposed of: Cardboard has a very high recycling rate at 89%. Styrofoam, however, has a less than 1% recycling rate, which means that a huge portion of pear packaging is ending up in landfills. Landfills cause significant environmental damage, including land clearance and chemical pollution. Furthermore, styrofoam can take up to 500 years to decompose.
• How are pears disposed of: Pears have cores that cannot be eaten. They can theoretically be composted, but in practice, only 4% of food waste is actually composted. Furthermore, food waste is particularly unsustainable as it releases a greenhouse gas called methane when it is put in landfills. 

In short, pears’ use of styrofoam packaging, as well as their low composting rates mean that this stage is very unsustainable. 

What Have Been Historical Ethics & Sustainability Issues Connected to the Pear Industry

The pear industry has historically caused a moderate amount of environmental damage. This is mainly due to the fact that they have contributed heavily to deforestation and used a significant amount of pesticides, which damage people and the planet. 

All fruits have had a complex road toward global distribution. They originate in one part of the world and often travel far to end up in your local supermarket. From farm to table, some of our favorite fruits have used unsustainable practices. Whether it’s exploiting labor, deforestation to meet demand, water pollution, or disruption of wildlife, most fruits have left a path of destruction. Many of these effects are still felt today or have even increased. Let’s see how pears have fared throughout history.

What have been the key ethical & sustainable issues of the pear industry?

• Has labor been exploited because of pears production: In 2019, multiple lawsuits were filed against the apple and pear industries for their use of the harmful pesticide chlorpyrifos. The lawsuit was launched by several states, as well as workers’ rights groups, against the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and alleged that the pesticide causes brain damage in fetuses and small children. These lawsuits demonstrate that this industry can use dangerous pesticides that can be harmful to workers, consumers, and the environment. 
• How much land has been lost because of pear production: Pear production takes up a significant amount of land, especially in Oregon and Washington. Agriculture accounted for a significant amount of deforestation in Oregon in the late 20th century. However, this trend began slowing in the early 21st century. Between 2000 and 2015, the amount of agriculture-related deforestation declined in Oregon. So, though pear and other agriculture may have had an impact on land loss in Oregon, this trend is easing. 
• Which wildlife species have been negatively impacted or displaced because of pear production: The deforestation that pear farms have caused has led to habitat loss for Oregon and Washington’s wildlife. Habitat loss is the leading cause of endangered species and so many species in the area have become threatened, including the Washington ground squirrel, wolverine, and the Colombian deer. 
• Have water sources and soil been contaminated because of pears production: Agricultural sources of pollution, such as pesticides, are the leading cause of water pollution. Pears have used a significant amount of pesticides throughout their life cycle, and so they have caused harm to a significant number of water sources.

In short, pears’ historical use of pesticides, as well as their contribution to deforestation in the Pacific Northwest means they have caused significant damage to people and environments over the years.

How Can You Reduce Your Environmental Impact and Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint

There are a few things you can do to make your pear consumption more ethical and sustainable, while still enjoying them. You can also consider offsetting your personal and pear-related carbon emissions, which work to remove carbon emissions elsewhere that are then attributed to you. Here, we will walk you through how to accomplish both of these things.

How Can You Shop for Pears More Ethically & Sustainably

In this section, we give you a short list of ways you can consume pears in a more sustainable way. This list is designed to target the most unsustainable parts of pears’ life-cycle:

1. Purchase organic pears: One of the most unsustainable aspects of pears is their excessive pesticide use. Organic farms generally avoid high amounts of chemical pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers and so they are good to support if you want to reduce your pesticide and fertilizer impact. Plus, organic farms pose fewer dangers to workers, since they won’t be exposed to as many pesticides. Thus, buying organic pears makes your consumption more ethical and sustainable. 
2. Dispose of organic and packaging waste responsibly: Much of the waste produced by pears ends up in landfills. The good news is that you have significant control over this as the consumer by trying to compost any organic waste that you can. If your city doesn’t have a composting system, you can try creating your own! Likewise, make sure to recycle any plastic and attempt to recycle styrofoam, if possible. Taking these measures will mean that far less of your pear waste will end up in landfills, mitigating much of the damage that landfills can cause. 
3. Support stricter child labor legislation: Since reports of child labor in the US pear industry have been found, it’s imperative that you advocate for stricter enforcement of these laws. Child labor is on the rise in the US since certain laws protecting children have been repealed. Participating in the democratic process and raising awareness about the dangers of child labor can help to reduce the amount of children being forced into dangerous labor situations in the US. 

Following some of these methods can really help you to make your pear-eating more sustainable. None of these will completely eradicate the negative impacts, since there are always effects that may be outside of your control. But some reduction is always better than nothing!

Which Organizations Can You Support to Help Promote Ethics & Sustainability

While pear production engages in some very unsustainable practices, there are also some organizations that help you change the parts of these processes that would otherwise be outside of your control. These organizations are working hard to prevent and reverse damage to the environment caused by industries like pear agriculture, towards a more sustainable future.

In the table below are some of the best charities that work in the areas where pear production are very unsustainable—and beyond:

Overall ethics & sustainability	Best charities that advance ethics worldwide Best charities that promote sustainability
Social and economic impact	Best charities that help farmers
Seasonality	Best charities that fight to protect our environment
Land requirements	Best charities for reforestation Best wildlife conservation charities Best charities for protecting the Amazon rainforest
Water footprint	Best charities that fight for clean water Best charities that help conserve our rivers Best charities to save our oceans
Agrochemical usage	Best charities for helping farm animals
Carbon footprint	Best charities for climate change Best carbon offsets for individuals
Waste generation	Best charities that fight to reduce food waste Best charities that fight to end plastic pollution Best charities that promote recycling

Though it is helpful to improve the ethics and sustainability of your personal pears consumption, supporting these organizations takes your positive impact a step further. You will be reaching far beyond your own consumption impacts and helping to build a better world for everyone!

How Can You Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint is a key part of how sustainable we live. And it is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Yes, even from eating pears!

“Carbon footprint: the amount of greenhouse gasses and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period”

Merriam Webster

Basically, it is the amount of carbon emitted by you as an individual or an organization providing you with goods and services – including pears:

• This includes GHG emissions from producing the products that we use and foods that we eat (e.g., power plants, factories or farms, and landfills)
• GHG emissions from fuel that we burn directly or indirectly (e.g., logistics and transportation, cooling or heating facilities),
• as well as the GHG emissions attributed to how we consume these products and foods.

Carbon offsets are reductions in carbon emissions that are used to compensate for carbon emissions occurring elsewhere – for example for the carbon emissions that are associated with pears. They are measured in tons of CO₂ equivalents and are bought and sold through international brokers, online retailers, and trading platforms on what is known as the global carbon offset market. 

“Carbon Offset: a way for a company or person to reduce the level of carbon dioxide for which they are responsible by paying money to a company that works to reduce the total amount produced in the world, for example by planting trees”

Oxford Dictionary

In terms of pears – and indeed all food types – there will always be a carbon footprint, because of the resources it takes to get your food from farms to the place where you’ll eventually eat them. And while there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint when shopping for pears, carbon offsets would be a way to reduce your CO₂e emissions all the way down to net zero (or even to become climate positive).

However, when you purchase carbon offsets, it’s important that they actually make a difference in offsetting (aka reducing) total carbon emissions. To achieve that, the following are key criteria:

• Carbon offset projects have to be effective (different projects have different effectiveness rates)
• Carbon offset projects have to be additional
• Carbon offset projects have to be permanent
• The claims from carbon offset projects have to be verifiable

To find the best carbon offsets for you personally, check out our full guide on the best carbon offsets for individuals, where you’ll also learn more about how these carbon offset projects work, what their respective offsetting costs are, and what your best way would be to offset your own carbon emissions.

Final Thoughts

Pears are certainly not the most ethical or sustainable fruit. Many of their agricultural practices are very unethical, such as their reports of child labor within the US, and very unsustainable, such as their use of styrofoam packaging and excessive pesticide use. However, if you take steps to reduce these things, by shopping for organic pears or disposing of packaging responsibly, you can mitigate your impact. Supporting environmental organizations and anti-child labor politicians can be another way to have a positive impact on the pear industry!

Stay impactful,

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• GOV.BC: Waste Management
• KUOW: Pesticide Linked to Brain Damage
• Today: Decreasing Development in Forest and Agricultural Land
• National Geographic: Endangered Species
• DFW: Endangered Species List Oregon
• NRDC: Water Pollution
• Our World In Data: Environmental Impacts of Food
• UVM: Sources of Nitrogen for Organic Farmers
• Earth Easy: Composting
• Our World in Data: Greenhouse Gas Emissions per 1,000 kilocalories
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Climate Change Terms
• Impactful Ninja: Best Charities That Advance Ethics Worldwide
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• Impactful Ninja: Best Charities That Fight to Protect our Environment
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