By
Grace Howarth

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Broccoli is one of the most consumed vegetables in the US, and it is considered a superfood that is high in nutrients, vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber. Yet, much less is shared about the effect that broccoli has on the planet. So we had to ask: What is the environmental impact of broccoli?

Broccoli has a moderately low impact on the environment. It is relatively land-efficient, uses few pesticides, and has a low water footprint when compared with other crops. The impact on the planet can be lessened even more by buying local, organic, and unpackaged produce.

In this article, we will examine the environmental impact of broccoli from several different angles. We will go through the life-cycle of broccoli, detailing their impact on the environment from growth to distribution to your plate to waste management. We will then compare the environmental impact of broccoli to that of other vegetables. And, finally, we’ll share some tips with you on how you can reduce your own environmental impact and offset your own carbon emissions – both for your personal life and broccoli-related.

Here’s How We Assessed the Environmental Impact of Broccoli

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the ways we measure the potential environmental effects of our actions, like the consumption of broccoli. It is a holistic assessment based on the environmental changes associated with our consumption. Those are changes in our environment that can have adverse effects on the air, land, water, fish, and wildlife or the inhabitants of the ecosystem.

“Environmental Impact: the effect that the activities of people and businesses have on the environment”

Cambridge Dictionary

Basically, all goods and services you buy – including broccoli – leave an impact on our environment. When it comes to food in general, and broccoli in specific, the following are key factors:

• 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 broccoli, we must assess each of their key factors. This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool originally developed to identify the environmental impacts of a project prior to decision-making and also helps us to evaluate the environmental impacts of broccoli, from farm to table.

Here’s the Overall Environmental Impact of Broccoli

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.

Overall, broccoli’s impact on the environment is average when compared with other vegetables. Some factors, such as its land-efficiency and minimal carbon footprint lower the effects broccoli has on the planet. However, the use of plastic packaging and agrochemicals can contribute negatively to the environmental impact.

So, let’s have a look at the environmental impact of each key factor of broccoli!

Key Assessment Factors	Environmental Impact
Land requirements for broccoli	Broccoli, like all crops, has an impact on wildlife, habitable land, biodiversity, and soil erosion. Broccoli is a relatively land-efficient crop, meaning its overall land requirements have a small environmental impact. Since broccoli thrives in well-drained soil, there is little soil erosion. Additionally, it can be grown locally across the US, meaning it has a low food mile carbon footprint.
Water footprint of broccoli	Broccoli has a moderately low water footprint of 34 liters required to grow a 4-ounce serving. Broccoli is somewhat sensitive to drought, so requires frequent watering. However, it still uses far less water than other crops, such as asparagus or soybeans grown as animal feed. The irrigation used to grow this crop increases the environmental impact, due to its potential to pollute water sources.
Agrochemical usage for broccoli	The agrochemical usage for broccoli is generally quite low when compared to other crops, due to the natural insect-repelling properties of the crop. However, fertilizer and pesticide use have a negative impact on the environment. The use of the pesticide Dacthal has recently been banned, which will lessen the overall impact of broccoli.
Carbon footprint of broccoli	Broccoli has a carbon footprint of 0.27 kg (0.60 lb) of CO2e per pound of produce. This is average in comparison to other vegetables. It has less than a third of the carbon footprint of cucumber, and almost half the carbon footprint of asparagus. The main factors for the emissions of broccoli are agriculture and packaging; the transportation footprint can be kept low by buying locally.
Waste generation of broccoli	Of the 993,385 tons of broccoli sold per year in the US, it is estimated that 119,000 tons are lost or wasted. 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 broccoli, but buying loose broccoli, as opposed to plastic-wrapped produce, and composting waste are steps that we can take to reduce the overall environmental impact of consuming broccoli.

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 broccoli’s environmental impact.

What Are the Land Requirements for Broccoli

Broccoli, like all crops, has an impact on wildlife, habitable land, biodiversity, and soil erosion. Broccoli is a relatively land-efficient crop, meaning its overall land requirements have a small environmental impact. Since broccoli thrives in well-drained soil, there is little soil erosion. Additionally, it can be grown locally across the US, meaning it has a low food mile carbon footprint.

Growing broccoli has a lot of variables that contribute to its environmental impact. The amount of land they use, the way in which they grow, and the amount of time they take to grow will all contribute to their environmental impact.

How do the land requirements of broccoli impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the land usage of broccoli: Broccoli is harvested twice a year, and a single harvest produces around 20 tons of broccoli per hectare. This is a fairly high yield rate, ten times more than the yield of beans, though not as high-yielding as lettuce or tomato plants.
• Where and how are broccoli grown: Broccoli is part of the brassica family and grows above ground. It is one of the most labor-intensive crops to grow because it cannot be harvested by machine. A reported 22,711 people are hired each year to grow broccoli in the US – though the number is probably far higher than reported. This intensive agricultural system can drive deforestation and biodiversity loss. The USA is the third largest producer of broccoli worldwide with California providing the US with 90% of the nation’s broccoli. Due to it being a native plant, the food miles of broccoli grown in the US are relatively low.
• How does the growing of broccoli affect soil fertility and erosion: Broccoli grows best in well-drained soils. While the farming of any crop is bound to cause soil erosion, draining soil can reduce soil and nutrient loss from runoff, and also help avoid soil erosion. This makes the overall soil impact of broccoli low compared to crops that grow in other soil types, such as sandy.
• How does the broccoli industry affect the loss of habitable land: In general terms, agriculture uses 44% of the planet’s habitable land, with two-thirds of this being used for grazing livestock. This means that 14.7% of habitable land is used to grow crops. Since broccoli is relatively land efficient, the loss of habitable land is smaller than that of more land-intensive crops or produce.
• How does the broccoli industry affect wildlife and biodiversity: The broccoli 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. Species such as pigeons, white cabbage butterfly caterpillars, and cabbage root flies are all creatures that eat this crop, and could be impacted by broccoli farming.

In short, the overall land requirements of broccoli have a low impact on the environment. This is because it is relatively land-efficient, does not contribute excessively to soil erosion, and can be grown locally across the country. 

What Is the Water Footprint of Broccoli

Broccoli has a moderately low water footprint of 34 liters required to grow a 4-ounce serving. Broccoli is somewhat sensitive to drought, so requires frequent watering. However, it still uses far less water than other crops, such as asparagus or soybeans grown as animal feed. The irrigation used to grow this crop increases the environmental impact, due to its potential to pollute water sources.

Water usage is one of the most important factors in the environmental impact of a vegetable. The amount of water used, as well as the way they affect the water sources around them, are all major contributing factors. Here, we will look at these different angles to broccoli’s water impact.

How does the water footprint of broccoli impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the overall water usage of broccoli: Broccoli is not a particularly drought-tolerant plant, so it must be watered regularly. It requires about 1-2 inches of water per week, which is usually supplied through drip irrigation. This can have a negative impact on the environment. However, the overall water footprint of growing this crop requires only 34 liters to grow a 4-ounce serving, which is relatively low. Some research is being undertaken to make broccoli more drought-tolerant, to reduce the water footprint further.
• What is the green water footprint of broccoli: 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 broccoli is 189 cubic meters per ton, one of the lowest out of the over 200 foods studied. 
• What is the blue water footprint of broccoli: 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 broccoli is 21 cubic meters per ton, a very low figure compared to the other 200 foods studied. This means they have a small impact on the environment.
• What is the gray water footprint of broccoli: 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 broccoli is 75 cubic meters per ton, a relatively low figure when compared with other vegetables.
• How does the broccoli industry affect freshwater and ocean pollution: Broccoli is often grown using drip irrigation to create the best growing environment for the crop. 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 broccoli has a negative impact on water pollution. 

In short, the environmental impact of broccoli’s water footprint is relatively low. Though it is sensitive to drought, it does not require an excess of water. The drip irrigation used can cause some water pollution, but broccoli has a much lower water footprint than that of other crops, such as asparagus.

What Is the Agrochemical Usage for Broccoli

The agrochemical usage for broccoli is generally quite low when compared to other crops, due to the natural insect-repelling properties of the crop. However, fertilizer and pesticide use have a negative impact on the environment. The use of the pesticide Dacthal has recently been banned, which will lessen the overall impact of broccoli.

Pesticides and fertilizers are agrochemicals that can have a significant impact on the environment. They both require resources to create as well as have effects on the life around them. Here, we will look at how broccoli’s pesticide and fertilizer rates affect their environmental impact.

How does the agrochemical usage of broccoli impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the pesticide usage of broccoli: Broccoli plants naturally repel insects, by exuding glucosinolates. For example, a study in 2018 found that 70% of broccoli samples were free from pesticide residues. Since pesticides produce carbon emissions by being manufactured, transported, and applied to crops, broccoli is a low-impact vegetable in this regard. 
• What is the fertilizer usage of broccoli: Many farmers apply a fertilizer of equal parts nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, to their broccoli crops during the growing process. Around 800 kg of fertilizer is used per hectare. Nitrogen fertilizer is particularly bad for the environment, as it can cause nature loss and even be damaging to human health.
• Are there any known issues connected to the agrochemical usage of broccoli: In August 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency order to stop the use of dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, otherwise known as Dacthal, a pesticide used commonly on crops like broccoli and cabbage. The EPA has not issued such an emergency order in four decades, but concerns arose that the pesticide could have adverse effects on unborn babies. The barring of this pesticide will have a positive impact on broccoli’s overall environmental impact.

In short, the use of fertilizers and pesticides contributes to the overall impact that broccoli has on the planet, but luckily the natural insect-repellent found inside this crop reduces its need for pesticides.

What Is the Carbon Footprint of Broccoli

Broccoli has a carbon footprint of 0.27 kg (0.60 lb) of CO₂e per pound of produce. This is average in comparison to other vegetables. It has less than a third of the carbon footprint of cucumber, and almost half the carbon footprint of asparagus. The main factors for these emissions of broccoli are agriculture and packaging; the transportation footprint can be kept low by buying locally.

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

How does the carbon footprint of broccoli impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the overall carbon footprint of broccoli: Broccoli has a carbon footprint of 0.27 kg (0.60 lb) of CO₂e per pound of produce. This is relatively average compared to other vegetables, but low when compared with other food sources.
• What are the main contributors to the carbon footprint of broccoli: Though broccoli can be sold loose, it is often wrapped in plastic. Broccoli is usually packed in bundles of two or four heads, and secured with an elastic band. Fourteen to eighteen bunches are packed in a waxed fiberboard carton, covered with ice, and transported. Unfortunately, these cartons are not recyclable, which creates waste, and contributes to the overall carbon footprint of broccoli.
• Which life-cycle stage of broccoli has the highest carbon footprint: Growing broccoli produces 0.11 kg (0.25 lb) of CO₂e per pound of broccoli. This amounts to 42.11% of its overall carbon emissions, which makes the growing process a significant part of the overall low carbon emissions. 

In short, broccoli has an average carbon footprint relative to other vegetables. The production of any crop will create a carbon footprint, due to the resources required to grow and distribute it. Broccoli’s use of plastic packaging is one of the biggest contributors to its overall carbon footprint.

What Is the Waste Generation of Broccoli

Of the 993,385 tons of broccoli sold per year in the US, it is estimated that 119,000 tons are lost or wasted. 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 broccoli, but buying loose broccoli, as opposed to plastic-wrapped produce, and composting waste are steps that we can take to reduce the overall environmental impact of consuming broccoli.

When vegetable waste, either packaging or organic materials, is disposed of, it can have a major impact on the environment. 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. In this section, we will look at how broccoli waste affects the environment.

How does the waste generation of broccoli impact their environmental footprint?

• What is the packaging of broccoli: Though it is possible to sell broccoli loose, it is often sold in plastic shrink film. This has a negative impact on the environment, as it requires a great deal of resources to create, and is often not possible to recycle.
• How is the packaging of broccoli disposed of: Broccoli packaging is usually non-recyclable. So, it ends up in landfill, is incinerated, or becomes plastic pollution. A report by the food waste charity WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) calls on retailers to sell loose produce, remove date labels, and provide storage advice when selling broccoli and other fresh produce, to reduce the environmental impact.
• How are broccoli disposed of: Unfortunately, 72% of Americans do not compost their food waste, and so broccoli often ends up in landfill. However, it is entirely compostable, cooked or raw, and is a nitrogen-rich ingredient for the soil.

In short, food waste is an enormous climate issue for all fresh consumables, which can be combated by making an effort to throw away less food, and to purchase loose vegetables instead of broccoli packaged in plastic. Being conscious in regards to food waste can make a huge difference: composting waste, not buying too much, and freezing leftovers are simple steps we can take to reduce our environmental impact.

What Have Been Historical Environmental Issues Connected to the Broccoli Industry

Historically, broccoli has been eaten since the Roman Empire. The avid gardener, and President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, reportedly experimented with growing broccoli when it was still a rarity in America. Although broccoli has been grown and sold in the US since the 1500s, it skyrocketed in the 1920s with the popularity in dishes made by Southern Italian migrants. With the global distribution of this crop comes a host of environmental issues, such as the loss of land and wildlife.

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

What have been the key environmental issues of the broccoli industry?

• How much land has been lost because of broccoli production: The industrialization of the broccoli industry over time has no doubt caused the loss of a lot of land. As the population continues to grow, more land is required to feed people around the globe. In California alone, 120,000 acres are used to grow broccoli. However, broccoli is land efficient, and causes far less land to be lost than non plant-based foods.
• Which wildlife species have been negatively impacted or displaced because of broccoli 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. In particular, pigeons, white cabbage butterfly caterpillars, and cabbage root flies are fond of broccoli and can be killed during harvesting. Broccoli plants are not known to have an overly negative impact on wildlife but the pesticides used on them can affect surrounding ecosystems.
• Have water sources and soil been contaminated because of broccoli production: With indiscriminate use of irrigation for a large variety of crops In India, there have been increased levels of arsenic found in broccoli soil. As well as this, some irrigation sources have been found to contaminate broccoli with feces-infested water, which can cover the crop in pathogenic microorganisms.
• Other known historical issues: The farming industry is vulnerable to modern day slavery and child labor, and unfortunately broccoli production is no different. Across the globe, the people growing and picking our food are some of society’s most impoverished and abused. Although many people are speaking out against the use of forced labor in farming practices, more has to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of farmers around the world.

In short, the global consumption of broccoli can have a negative impact on the environment. Unfortunately, no crop is free from ethical and environmental issues. The impact of broccoli may be lower than that of other food types, but it is important to recognize the impact that all of our purchases have on the planet and the people on it.

What Is the Overall Environmental Impact of Food and Agriculture

Food production in general has a significant impact on the environment. It is the cause of a great deal of pollution, loss of biodiversity, land and water use. The table below breaks down the overall environmental impact of the agriculture industry.

Agriculture alone accounts for over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, while using half of the world’s habitable land and 70% of the global freshwater withdrawals. Agriculture also causes 78% of the global ocean and freshwater pollution. 

Livestock accounts for the vast majority of non-human mammal and bird biomass. Mammal livestock outweighs wild mammals by a factor of 15-to-1, and poultry livestock outweighs wild birds by a factor of more than 3-to-1.

These statistics highlight the need for sustainable and responsible practices in food production to reduce its impact on the environment. And the need for us to shift toward more environmentally-friendly foods.

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

There are a few things you can do to mitigate some of the negative environmental effects of consuming broccoli, while still enjoying them. You can also consider offsetting your personal and broccoli-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 Reduce Your Environmental Impact When Shopping for Broccoli

In this section, we give you a short list of ways you can reduce the negative environmental effects of broccoli, based on those parts of the life-cycle of broccoli that would otherwise most negatively impact the environment:

1. Avoid broccoli that is packaged in plastic: Choosing loose produce is a very easy way to reduce plastic waste from unnecessary packaging. 
2. Buy your broccoli from local farms: If you’re on the West Coast, make sure to buy broccoli from your area. If on the East Coast, try to find suppliers and farmers’ markets, who may sell broccoli that is grown more locally to you than the broccoli sold in big stores. This will help reduce food miles.
3. Consume all parts of each broccoli: Try and use as much of the broccoli as you can, incorporating stalks and leaves into recipes to cut down on food waste. Any waste that is left behind should be composted to make the life cycle of broccoli as sustainable as possible.

Following some of these methods can really help you to cut down on your environmental impact of eating broccoli. 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 Alleviate Your Environmental Impact

While broccoli can cause a wide range of environmental damage, 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 damage to the environment caused by industries like broccoli agriculture.

In the table below are some of the best environmental charities that work in the areas where broccoli production has affected the environment – and beyond:

Overall environmental impact	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 Best charities that protect our national parks
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 that help farmers 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

Though it is helpful to reduce the environmental impact of your personal broccoli 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 your environmental impact. And it is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Yes, even from eating broccoli!

“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 broccoli:

• 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 broccoli. 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 broccoli – 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 broccoli, 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

Broccoli has a relatively low environmental impact when compared with other vegetables and is even more sustainable when compared with other foods. However, you can try to reduce your environmental impact even further by eating organic, reducing food and plastic waste, and purchasing local, seasonal produce. When you do enjoy broccoli, think about whether you can offset the carbon emissions created, to make this healthy snack an even more sustainable option!

Stay impactful,

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• Compassion in World Farming: People and Poverty
• Our World in Data: Emissions from food alone would take us past 1.5°C or 2°C this century
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