By
Grace Howarth

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Tomatoes are the second most consumed vegetable in the US and the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They also are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. Yet, much less is shared about the effect tomatoes have on the planet and communities. So we had to ask: Is eating tomatoes ethical and sustainable?

Eating tomatoes can be unethical due to the modern-day slavery and child labor found within the industry. As well as this, farmers often work in poor conditions for very little pay. It is important to find out where your tomatoes were farmed to ensure they are as ethically produced as possible.

Eating tomatoes is somewhat unsustainable as tomatoes have the second highest carbon footprint when compared to other popular vegetables. As well as this, they have high land and pesticide requirements, which can affect soil health and cause biodiversity loss.

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

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

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 tomatoes. 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 tomatoes—leave an impact on people, animals, and our environment. And when it comes to food in general—and tomatoes 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 environmental impact of tomatoes, 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 tomatoes is ethical & sustainable.

Here’s How Ethical & Sustainable Eating Tomatoes Is

All crops have an impact on the environment, as a great many resources, like land and water, are needed to produce food on a mass scale. As well as this, the global consumption of a crop will lead to ethical and sustainable issues, such as land loss and exploitation of workers across the world.

Overall, tomatoes are one of the least ethical and sustainable choices when it comes to vegetables, due to severe concerns about child labor and modern day slavery in the tomato farming industry. As well as this, they have a high carbon footprint, require a lot of land, and can cause biodiversity loss. However, they do have a relatively small water footprint compared to other salad vegetables.

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

Key Assessment Factors	Ethics & Sustainability
Social and economic conditions of tomatoes	Unfortunately, the tomato industry is linked to severely unethical practice. Many farmers live in poverty, work long hours in direct sunlight, and are at risk of serious health issues. Many slave labor and child labor issues have also been uncovered in investigations of tomato farms in China, Mexico, Paraguay, and Italy.
Seasonality of tomatoes	Tomatoes are warm-season crops, which tend to be in-season during the summer months, depending on your location. While warmer states can grow them year-round, summer is the best time to purchase tomatoes to ensure their quality and sustainability.
Land requirements for tomatoes	Tomatoes require a lot of land to grow, meaning that their environmental impact is quite high. As one of the most land-intensive plant-based foods, often imported from Mexico and Canada, this crop contributes to soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and carbon emissions from transportation. As such, when it comes to land requirements, tomatoes are not the most ethical or sustainable choice.
Water footprint of tomatoes	Overall, tomatoes have a relatively small global average water footprint of 180 liters per kilo of produce. They require irrigation, in a lot of cases, which has a negative impact on freshwater and ocean pollution. However, in comparison to other crops, they are not overly water-intensive.
Agrochemical usage for tomatoes	Tomatoes often require agrochemicals, such as pesticides, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. This vegetable can be vulnerable to disease and crop failure, so compared to other crops, the agrochemical use can be significant. Thus, this makes tomatoes a relatively unsustainable crop when it comes to agrochemical use.
Carbon footprint of tomatoes	Tomatoes have a fairly high carbon footprint of 0.82 kg (1.8 lbs) CO2e per pound of produce. The main factor for these emissions is agriculture, which accounts for 94.53% of the overall carbon footprint of tomatoes, because of the large amount of land needed to grow this crop.
Waste generation of tomatoes	A massive 31% of fresh tomatoes are wasted annually, which is the equivalent of each person in the country throwing out 21 tomatoes a year. For every pound of food waste, 1.13 kg (2.5 lbs) of CO2e is emitted. More research needs to be undertaken on the overall impact of the End-of-Life stage of tomatoes, but buying loose produce and composting tomato waste are steps that we can take to make tomatoes a more sustainable and ethical choice.

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 tomatoes’ ethics & sustainability.

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

Unfortunately, the tomato industry is linked to severely unethical practice. Many farmers live in poverty, work long hours in direct sunlight, and are at risk of serious health issues. Many slave labor and child labor issues have also been uncovered in investigations of tomato farms in China, Mexico, Paraguay, and Italy. 

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 tomato industry fares in relation to these ethical questions.

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

• Are farmers paid fair wages to grow tomatoes: Between 2000-2022, the average hourly rate for US tomato growers rose by 28% (adjusted for inflation), with the current average wage at around $15. Despite this, many farmworkers live in extreme poverty, earning only $15,000-$17,000 a year, without benefits, health insurance, overtime, paid vacation, or pensions. As US farm labor markets tighten, the country becomes more reliant on imported tomatoes, usually from Mexico. Crops from countries where labor laws aren’t as stringent can lead to even greater exploitation. For example, tomato farmers in Mexico earn an average of just $340 a month. To ensure your tomatoes are farmed as ethically as possible, aim to shop locally.
• How safe are the working conditions to grow tomatoes: There are a great deal of health and safety issues for tomato farmers. Farmers have to work long days in direct sunlight, which sometimes results in heat stroke or heat exhaustion. As well as this, the physical labor can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. Furthermore, workers are frequently exposed to agrochemicals like pesticides, which can cause cancer, endocrine disruption, neurological, and psychological problems, and asthma. Some tomato farms have been known to have no toilets, shade, or clean drinking water. The working conditions of tomato farming can be extremely poor, so try to purchase from fairtrade, local farms, where you can.
• Are there reports of child or forced labor to grow tomatoes: The risk of child and slave labor in the tomato industry has been described as endemic and systemic. For example, tomatoes imported from China could be tied to the forced labor of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. In Mexico, forced labor has been found on both commercial tomato plantations and smallholder farms in states such as Baja California, Coahuila, Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, and Sinaloa. Furthermore, approximately 13,095 children are forced to grow tomatoes in rural Paraguay. Overall, the tomato industry is rife with issues of modern slavery and unethical practices.
• What is the wider economic impact on the communities that grow tomatoes: Farmwork is one of the most dangerous jobs, with poor wages, health and safety issues, and a high risk of exploitation. For example, up to 75% of farmworkers in the US are undocumented, which means their socioeconomic situations can be insecure, despite the long, grueling hours of work they do. Even for the many farmers working on the H2-A agricultural visa, poverty and poor working conditions is an issue. The Fair Food Program, established in 2011, has improved conditions enormously for US farmers, but a great deal more must be done to make it a truly ethical and safe job for people.

In short, the tomato industry is rife with socioeconomic issues and the exploitation of workers. Though much is being done to improve working conditions for US farmers, the global industry has been linked to slave and child labor, making it a deeply unethical crop.

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Seasonality for Tomatoes

Tomatoes are warm-season crops, which tend to be in-season during the summer months, depending on your location. While warmer states can grow them year-round, summer is the best time to purchase tomatoes to ensure their quality and sustainability.

Every crop has a natural season in which they grow, usually lasting a couple of months.. However, international demand for every kind of crop is year-round. This demand is often met by importing crops 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 tomato industry accommodates year-round demand.

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

• When is the natural season for growing and harvesting tomatoes: In hotter states, like California and Florida, tomatoes can be grown year-round. However, the best season for tomatoes is during the summer months, as they are warm-season plants. Eating seasonally means that there is less of a reliance on imported or greenhouse-grown tomatoes, making them a more sustainable option in the summer.
• How are tomatoes naturally grown in-season: There are two types of tomatoes; determinate, which grow on bushes, and indeterminate, which grow on vines. In-season tomatoes are often grown in fields rather than greenhouses. Greenhouses are often energy-intensive, making in-season tomatoes more sustainable than out-of-season tomatoes.
• How are tomatoes grown out-of-season: During the colder months, in cooler states, tomatoes are often grown in greenhouses, which can use a lot of energy. Otherwise, tomatoes will be imported from warmer states or countries, increasing the carbon footprint of transporting this crop. When possible, try to eat seasonally to make your diet as sustainable as you can.

In short, seasonal tomatoes will always be more sustainable than out-of-season tomatoes, as they will be tastier and less likely to rely on greenhouses or importation.

How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Land Requirements for Tomatoes

Tomatoes require a lot of land to grow, meaning that their environmental impact is quite high. As one of the most land-intensive plant-based foods, often imported from Mexico and Canada, this crop contributes to soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and carbon emissions from transportation. As such, when it comes to land requirements, tomatoes are not the most ethical or sustainable choice.

The growth stage has a major impact on the sustainability of crops. 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 tomatoes’ land usage affects their sustainability.

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

• What is the land usage of tomatoes: Across the globe, 12.4 million acres (5 million hectares) are used to grow tomatoes. Per 1,000 kilocalories of tomatoes, 4.21 m² of land is used, making them one of the most land-intensive plant-based foods. This is a large reason why the carbon footprint of tomatoes is high, though advancements are being made in vertical farming, to yield more crops using far less land.
• Where and how are tomatoes grown: Tomatoes are part of the Solanaceae family, and are an incredibly labor-intensive plant to grow. The US is the second largest producer of tomatoes, after China. The majority of US-grown tomatoes are harvested in Florida and California, with California accounting for 95% of processed tomatoes. However, only 40% of fresh tomatoes consumed in the US are grown domestically, with the remaining 60% being imported from Mexico and Canada. Labor shortages in the US means that more tomatoes are imported as opposed to grown domestically. This international transport impacts the carbon footprint in a negative way, making them rather unsustainable.
• How does the growing of tomatoes affect soil fertility and erosion: Tomatoes are grown in sandy soils, so the potential for soil erosion is far higher when growing tomatoes than when growing other crops, such as cereals or oilseed. This negatively impacts the environmental footprint of tomatoes, as soil erosion reduces the fertility of soil and can lead to flooding and water pollution.
• How does the tomato industry affect the loss of habitable land: Overall, agriculture uses 44% of the planet’s habitable land, with two-thirds of this being used for grazing livestock. This means, overall, 14.7% of habitable land is used to grow crops. Since tomatoes are a land-intensive crop, compared to other plant-based foods, the tomato industry can have a negative impact on the loss of habitable land.
• How does the tomato industry affect wildlife and biodiversity: The tomato industry, like any other farming industry, has a negative impact on wildlife. Small creatures like mice, rabbits, birds, and insects are often displaced or killed in the harvesting process. Moreover, the use of pesticides when growing tomatoes can contaminate habitats, leading to degradation and the population decline of amphibians, birds, and pollinators.

In short, compared to other crops, the land requirements of tomatoes negatively affect the overall sustainability and ethical impact of this crop. They require lots of land to grow, which can lead to soil erosion, as well as loss of habitable land and biodiversity.

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Water Footprint of Tomatoes

Overall, tomatoes have a relatively small global average water footprint of 180 liters per kilo of produce. They require irrigation, in a lot of cases, which has a negative impact on freshwater and ocean pollution. However, in comparison to other crops, they are not overly water-intensive.

Water usage is one of the most important factors in a vegetable’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 surrounding water sources, are all important. Here, we will look at these different angles of tomatoes’ water footprint.

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

• What is the overall water usage of tomatoes: On average, 18.4 gallons of water are needed to grow 1 pound of tomatoes. Since plants in hot climates transpire far more than those in colder climates, tomatoes grown in cooler temperatures use a lot less water. This is a relatively low amount of water in comparison to other fruits and vegetables, such as soybeans, which require almost 10 times the amount of water.
• What is the green water footprint of tomatoes: The green water footprint is the amount of water from precipitation stored in the soil and used by plants for growth. The global average green water footprint of tomatoes is 108 cubic meters per ton, one of the lowest out of the over 200 foods studied. This means that they are relatively sustainable in this regard.
• What is the blue water footprint of tomatoes: The blue water footprint is the amount of water sourced from surface (such as rivers or lakes) or groundwater resources. The global average blue water footprint of tomatoes is 63 cubic meters per ton, which is relatively low compared to most of the other 200 foods studied. Compared to other crops, the blue water footprint of tomatoes is quite sustainable.
• What is the gray water footprint of tomatoes: 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 humans and the environment. The global average gray water footprint of tomatoes is 43 cubic meters per ton, one of the lowest out of the over 200 foods studied, meaning tomatoes have a low gray water footprint.
• How does the tomato industry affect freshwater and ocean pollution: In California, tomatoes have to be watered using irrigation systems to meet the crop water use or crop evapotranspiration (ETc) requirements of processing tomatoes. Intensive irrigation can impact freshwater and ocean pollution by increasing erosion and transporting pesticides and heavy metals into water supplies. As well as this, it can cause a buildup of the toxic metal, selenium, and decrease the amount of water that flows naturally in streams. Therefore, the irrigation of tomatoes has a negative impact on water pollution, making them less sustainable. 

In short, tomatoes have a relatively small water footprint compared to other crops. However, the intensive farming of any crop will negatively affect the environment.

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Agrochemical Usage for Tomatoes

Tomatoes often require agrochemicals, such as pesticides, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. This vegetable can be vulnerable to disease and crop failure, so compared to other crops, the agrochemical use can be significant. Thus, this makes tomatoes a relatively unsustainable crop when it comes to agrochemical use.

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 tomatoes’ pesticide and fertilizer rates really are.

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

• What is the pesticide usage of tomatoes: Tomatoes are found to have the 12th highest pesticide usage out of any fruit and vegetable in the US. An average tomato has 4 different pesticides used on it, and some have up to 15. Pesticides produce carbon emissions through their manufacturing, transportation, and application to crops, so tomatoes are a high-impact crop in this regard. A move towards vertical farming would require less pesticides. To lessen the environmental impact of tomatoes, opt for organic produce.
• What is the fertilizer usage of tomatoes: Compared to other vegetables, tomatoes often use more fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, nitrogen fertilizer, which is particularly bad for the environment, is only used sparingly on tomatoes, as it can impact growth.
• Are there any known issues connected to the agrochemical usage for tomatoes: Most varieties of tomatoes that are sold commercially tend to be highly sensitive to disease and vulnerable to crop failure. Because of this, many agrochemicals are used to increase yield. This can lead to adverse environmental and health impacts because of the toxic chemical deposits, and water and air pollution.

In short, tomatoes are a relatively vulnerable crop, meaning that agrochemicals are often used, which have a negative impact on the environment. When it comes to vegetables, choosing organic produce or crops featured in the Environmental Working Group’s ‘Clean Fifteen’ can be a more ethical and sustainable option.

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Carbon Footprint of Tomatoes

Tomatoes have a fairly high carbon footprint of 0.82 kg (1.8 lbs) CO₂e per pound of produce. The main factor for these emissions is agriculture, which accounts for 94.53% of the overall carbon footprint of tomatoes, because of the large amount of land needed to grow this crop.

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

How ethical & sustainable is the carbon footprint of tomatoes?

• What is the overall carbon footprint of tomatoes: The overall carbon footprint of tomatoes is 0.82 kg (1.8 lbs) CO₂e per pound of produce, which is relatively high for vegetables. Out of the ten most popular vegetables, tomatoes have the second highest carbon footprint.
• What are the main contributors to the carbon footprint of tomatoes: The main factors that contribute to the carbon emissions of tomatoes are the amount of land needed to grow this vegetable, as well as high pesticide requirements.
• Which life-cycle stage of tomatoes has the highest carbon footprint: The growing stage of tomatoes is 0.77 kg (1.7lb) CO₂e per pound of produce. This makes up an enormous 94.53% of the overall carbon footprint of tomatoes. They require a lot of land, which means that they are not the most sustainable crop to grow.

In short, compared to other vegetables, tomatoes have a very high carbon footprint. This means that they are not the most ethical or sustainable choice. Because tomatoes are the most consumed vegetable, the scale of tomato consumption is high, and thus, the carbon emissions released when growing tomatoes are even higher.

How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Waste Generation of Tomatoes

A massive 31% of fresh tomatoes are wasted annually, which is the equivalent of each person in the country throwing out 21 tomatoes a year. For every pound of food waste, 1.13 kg (2.5 lbs) of CO₂e is emitted. More research needs to be undertaken on the overall impact of the End-of-Life stage of tomatoes, but buying loose produce and composting tomato waste are steps that we can take to make tomatoes a more sustainable and ethical choice.

When crop 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 look at how sustainable tomatoes’ waste generation is.

How ethical & sustainable is the waste generation of tomatoes?

• What is the packaging of tomatoes: There are many methods of packaging tomatoes, including cardboard cartons, plastic boxes, plastic wrap, wooden crates, or cardboard boxes. Processed tomatoes are also packaged in a variety of ways, from aluminum cans to plastic bottles and glass jars. The most eco-friendly choice is to buy loose tomatoes, which have been packed in biodegradable boxes.
• How is the packaging of tomatoes disposed of: Some retailers, such as British-based Marks and Spencer, are moving closer towards fully recyclable cardboard cartons for tomatoes. Most plastic film, or plastic cartons are difficult, if not impossible, to recycle. Choosing loose produce will reduce the harm of plastic waste and the need for recycling resources. Interestingly, studies are being made into using tomato waste as bio-lacquers for food packaging, which aims to reduce the packaging waste of other products. 
• How are tomatoes disposed of: Unfortunately up to 86.7% of tomatoes are thrown away due to appearance, before even reaching stores. The resources used to grow these crops just to discard them are enormous, and negatively impact the carbon footprint of tomatoes. To reduce this waste, the demand for ‘wonky fruit and veg’ has been rising. Buying imperfect produce will lead to farmers throwing away fewer crops. Tomatoes are completely compostable, though food waste in landfill is a big problem for the environment.

In short, food and plastic waste contribute to our planet’s carbon footprint. Steps can be taken to reduce your individual waste, through buying loose produce and not over-consuming or throwing out tomatoes.

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

Historically, the tomato crop has been linked to colonization, with tomatoes being brought to Europe from the Americas by the Spanish Empire. Today, the tomato industry makes up 15% of all vegetable production worldwide. Unfortunately, as well as the negative impacts that tomato farming has on the environment, there are many forced labor and human trafficking concerns linked to the tomato industry.

All crops 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 and vegetables have racked up some serious damage along the way. Whether it’s exploiting labor, deforestation to meet demand, water pollution, or disruption of wildlife, most crops have left a path of destruction. Let’s see how tomatoes have fared throughout history.

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

• Has labor been exploited because of tomato production: The tomato industry has been known to be rife with humanitarian issues, such as slave labor used on tomato farms in Italy and Mexico. According to an investigation by Medium, laborers work up to “14 hours a day for meager pay, under the eye of a network of gangmasters who make excessive deductions or charge inflated rates for transport, accommodation, food and other ‘services’. Those complaining can face violence and intimidation.” However, thanks to campaigning from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, every fast-food corporation in the US, besides Wendy’s, has signed the Fair Food agreement. This agreement has been implemented on 90% of Florida’s tomato fields, leading to the eradication of slavery for tens of thousands of workers.
• How much land has been lost because of tomato production: Tomatoes were first cultivated in the South American Andes in 500 BC, before spreading across Europe in the 16th century. The industry is now the world’s twelfth most profitable crop or livestock product, worth $87.9 billion annually. In the industrialization of tomatoes, over 5 million hectares of land are used to grow this crop around the world.
• Which wildlife species have been negatively impacted or displaced because of tomato production: In the cultivation and harvest of any crop, many small animals like mice, rabbits, and insects will be displaced or killed by the harvesting equipment. Tomato plants are not known to have a negative impact on wildlife but the pesticides used on them can affect surrounding ecosystems. 
• Have water sources and soil been contaminated because of tomato production: Many studies have been done into the impact of irrigating tomato plants with wastewater, the general consensus being that there is no impact on the vegetable. However, this can cause a buildup of toxic heavy metals in the soil, which has a negative impact on the environment.

In short, the global consumption of tomatoes is linked to many ethical and sustainability concerns. Throughout the history of tomato agriculture, many farmers have been exploited and mistreated. Thankfully, in recent years, there has been campaigning against the modern slavery that blights the industry.

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

There are a few things you can do to ensure the tomatoes you purchase are as ethical and sustainable as possible. You can also consider offsetting your personal and tomato-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 Tomatoes More Ethically & Sustainably

In this section, we give you a short list of ways you can consume tomatoes in the most ethical and sustainable ways possible:

1. Opt for packaging free produce: If you are unable to find loose tomatoes, choose cardboard-based packaging as opposed to plastic. Plastic waste is hard to recycle and creates an abundance of issues for the environment.
2. Buy locally: Driving up demand for local produce reduces food miles and lessens greenhouse gas emissions. As well as this, it is more likely that local farmers will be working under more ethical conditions. Making sure to buy tomatoes grown in the US, instead of imported from other countries, will have a positive impact.
3. Purchase organic: Organic tomatoes produce a much lower carbon footprint than non-organic vegetables, due to the lack of pesticide production, distribution, and the overall higher health of soil for crops, insects, and animals.
4. Get creative with leftovers: Try not to over-consume in the first place, but if you find yourself with extra tomatoes, make sauces, salsas, purees, pickles, or other recipes that preserve them. This will help reduce your carbon footprint in terms of food waste. If you are stuck for ideas, here are some recipes that might inspire you.

Following some of these methods can really help you to cut down on your environmental impact of eating tomatoes, making them a more sustainable and ethical choice. None of these will completely eradicate these 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 tomatoes can be the cause of a wide range of environmental damage and ethical issues, there are also some organizations that help you reduce parts of your impact that would otherwise be outside of your control. These organizations are working hard to prevent and reverse ethical and sustainable problems caused by industries like agriculture.

In the table below are some of the best charities that work in the areas where tomatoes production has affected the environment—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 reduce the environmental impact of your personal tomato 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 tomatoes!

“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 tomatoes:

• 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 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 tomatoes – 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 tomatoes, 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

Overall, tomatoes are one of the least ethical and sustainable crops. The issues surrounding modern day slavery and child labor are grave and widespread. Human rights programs like the Fair Food Program are tirelessly fighting for a fairer tomato industry. Through spreading awareness to these issues, and eating ethically and sustainably purchased tomatoes, you too can help to make the world a better place!

Stay impactful,

Sources

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