Kiwis are a delicious fruit with a strong nutritional content. In fact, they have more potassium than bananas and more vitamin C than oranges! Kiwi production is a booming industry, with about 5 million metric tons produced each year. In popular culture, they are most associated with the nation of New Zealand and their birds of the same name. But kiwis also have a significant carbon impact. So we had to ask: What is the carbon footprint of kiwis?

The carbon footprint of kiwis is high at 0.56kg (1.24lb) of CO₂e per pound of kiwis. This is mainly because they are transported from New Zealand in refrigerated trucks, have long growth durations, use mechanized processing, and suffer from low composting rates. 

In this article, we will look at the full life-cycle of kiwis, investigating how each stage contributes to their carbon footprint. We will go through all of the main stages of kiwis’ production—starting with growth and then going through harvesting, processing, transportation, and ending at waste disposal—and will evaluate how each stage contributes to kiwis’ carbon footprint. So, let’s get into the carbon footprint of kiwis!

Here’s How We Assessed the Carbon Footprint of Kiwis

The carbon footprint is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. It primarily focuses on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with consumption, but also includes other emissions such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons, and is generally expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e).

“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 kiwis:

• 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.

To understand the carbon footprint of kiwis, we must assess their life-cycle and each stage’s sustainability. This life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of products and materials.

Here’s the Overall Carbon Footprint of Kiwis

The overall carbon footprint of kiwis is high at 0.56kg (1.24lb) of CO₂e per pound of kiwis. The main factors that contribute to this are long growth times, long transportation distances, mechanized processing, refrigeration requirements, and low composting rates. 

There are many things kiwis do right when it comes to their carbon footprint. They have relatively economic land use, don’t need irrigation, and don’t use significant packaging. However, there are still many components to their life cycle that drive up their carbon footprint. 

So, let’s have a look at each stage of the LCA of kiwis!

The stage that contributes the most to kiwis’ carbon footprint is transportation. Bringing the fruits from New Zealand, especially on refrigerated trucks, is very costly carbon-wise. Growth, harvesting, and end-of-life, however, still have fairly significant carbon footprints. As a result, the entire life cycle of kiwis creates sizable emissions. 

What Is the Carbon Footprint of Growing Kiwis

The carbon footprint of growing kiwis is moderate because they require less irrigation and fewer pesticides than many other fruits. However, their growth duration is longer than average. 

The process of growing kiwis has a moderate carbon footprint, depending on the methods used. Factors like the amount of irrigation, deforestation, and pesticide use can all contribute to the overall impact of the growth stage.

Which factors impact the carbon footprint of growing kiwis?

• How do kiwis grow: Kiwis grow on climbing vines, which have carbon-sequestering properties. Because of this, they offset some of their own emissions. Thus, this aspect of the kiwi growing process has a small carbon footprint. 
• What is the growth duration of kiwis: The longer the growth frame, the higher the carbon footprint because more resources are required to sustain the plants. Kiwi plants take 3–4 years from planting to start producing fruit. Individual kiwis take around 4–5 months to mature. These are fairly long timeframes. For comparison, strawberries can be harvested the same year as planting. So, growth duration contributes highly to kiwis’ carbon footprint. 
• What is the land usage of kiwis: When fruits use less land, they require less deforestation and resources to sustain them. Kiwis yield around 25 tons per hectare. This is fairly average for fruits, with some being as low as 2–4 and some as high as 100. Thus, the land use contributes moderately to kiwis’ carbon footprint. 
• What is the water usage of kiwis: Kiwis need about 35 inches of water per year. Most kiwis are grown in New Zealand, which gets an average of 40 inches of rain per year. Because of this, New Zealand kiwis don’t need significant irrigation. However, most American-grown kiwis come from California, which only gets around 22 inches of water per year. Irrigation has a significant carbon footprint. Therefore, if you are getting your kiwis from California, they will have a higher carbon footprint than New Zealand kiwis in the irrigation category. 
• What is the pesticide and fertilizer usage of kiwis: Kiwis were included on a list of the lowest pesticide fruits. For example, in a 2018 study, 65% of kiwis tested negative for pesticide residue. Therefore, pesticides are not a major contributor to kiwis’ carbon footprint. 

Kiwis have a lot going for them during the growing stage, with a moderate growth carbon footprint. However, there is not really a lot you can do to lower the footprint of this stage. For example, New Zealand kiwis don’t require irrigation but overall, they still have a high carbon footprint because of long travel distances compared to those from California. 

In short, kiwis don’t require much irrigation (depending on where they are grown) and have low pesticide rates. However, they take a long time to grow compared to many other fruits and use an average amount of land. So, the overall carbon footprint of this stage is moderate. 

What Is the Carbon Footprint of Harvesting, Processing, and Packaging Kiwis

The carbon footprint of harvesting, processing, and packaging kiwis is moderate. This is mainly because of the carbon emitted from the machines used during the processing stage. 

The next major stage in the life-cycle of kiwis’ carbon emissions is harvesting, processing, and packaging. This involves picking the fruit, checking it for damage, sorting it, and getting it ready for distribution. This stage can contribute greatly to the carbon footprint of the fruit depending on the processes used.

Which factors impact the carbon footprint of harvesting, processing, and packaging kiwis?

• How are kiwis harvested: Kiwis are harvested manually. Because manual harvesting doesn’t require energy to run, this stage contributes minimally to kiwis’ carbon footprint. 
• How are kiwis processed: The processing stage of kiwis is primarily mechanized. For example, automated grading systems are used to determine the size of each kiwi and sorts them accordingly. Because these machines require energy to run, this stage is a major contributor to kiwis carbon footprint. 
• How are kiwis packaged: Once they are processed, Kiwis are stacked in pallets and then refrigerated until they need to be loaded onto trucks. So, they don’t require carbon-heavy packaging such as plastic, but their refrigeration requirements drive up the carbon footprint of this stage. 

Kiwis have a moderate production footprint. To lower the footprint of this stage you could try purchasing kiwis from smaller farms which might have more manual processing practices. 

In short, the mechanization involved in processing kiwis and their cold storage requirements raise their carbon footprint. However, manual harvesting and the lack of packaging prevent their footprint from being too high. 

What Is the Carbon Footprint of Transporting of Kiwis

The carbon footprint of transporting kiwis is high. The main causes are long shipping distances from New Zealand and the increased emissions from refrigerated cargo containers. 

Kiwis’ journeys have just started when they are packaged. They then have to travel the distance between the farm and the grocery store. The distance, as well as the method through which they have to travel, are the two most important factors in determining the carbon footprint of their transportation.

Which factors impact the carbon footprint of transporting kiwis?

• Where are kiwis grown: Most kiwis are grown in New Zealand. This is a huge distance to travel and so these kiwis have a massive carbon footprint. However, there are also American-grown kiwis, 98% of which are grown in California. These will have a much smaller footprint, despite the fact that most of the population lives in the eastern half of the country. So, in general, New Zealand kiwis have a very high transportation footprint, while American ones have a moderate transportation footprint. 
• How are kiwis transported: Kiwis are transported using refrigerated cargo containers on ships. Refrigerated cargo containers have a higher carbon footprint than those used to transport dry goods. Therefore, this stage has a significant carbon footprint. 

There are quite a few factors that raise the transportation footprint of kiwis. To reduce your impact, consider buying American kiwis to cut down on transportation distances. 

In short, kiwis’ transportation from New Zealand in refrigerated trucks means that their footprint at this stage is very high. 

What Is the Carbon Footprint of the End-of-Life of Kiwis

The carbon footprint of the end-of-life of kiwis is moderate. The main factor is low composting rates amongst organic waste. 

Kiwis’ carbon footprint journey isn’t done after you consume them. In fact, one of the most important factors that will determine the overall carbon footprint of kiwis is how their waste is disposed of. Here, we will look at how this stage in the process affects kiwis’ carbon footprint. 

Which factors impact the carbon footprint of the end-of-life of kiwis?

• How are kiwis disposed of: Kiwis have peels that can’t be eaten. They can theoretically be composted but unfortunately, composting of food waste tends to be low. In fact, only 4% of food waste is actually composted. Because of these low rates, the majority of kiwi waste ends up in landfills. Furthermore, when food waste is in landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas. Therefore, kiwis’ organic waste has a high carbon footprint. 
• How is the packaging of kiwis disposed of: Kiwis don’t have significant packaging and so this stage of their carbon footprint is very low. 

The low packaging involved in kiwis results in a low footprint. To reduce your impact on this stage, you can make the effort to compost your kiwi peels. 

In short, the fact that most foods are not composted properly drives up kiwis’ carbon footprint. However, the lack of packaging prevents it from being too high. 

How Does the Carbon Footprint of Kiwis Compare to Other Types of Food

Kiwis have a high carbon footprint compared to other fruits, but a more moderate carbon footprint when compared to foods in general. This is mainly because, when kilocalories are taken into account, kiwis are more calorie-dense and therefore more carbon efficient. 

Kiwis have a moderate to high carbon footprint compared to other foods, depending on kilocalories. When assessing the carbon footprint of a particular food, it is always important to place it in the context of other foods. This can help you to see the relative impact they have and assist you in making decisions between different foods based on their carbon footprint. In this next part of the article, we will show you how kiwis compare to other foods in terms of carbon footprint.

How Does the Carbon Footprint of Kiwis Compare to Other Types of Fruits

Kiwis have a high carbon footprint when compared to other fruits. Fruits in general, tend to have lower carbon footprints than many other foods, like dairy products. However, there is still a lot of variation between them. Different transportation distances, the density of orchards, variations in growing methods, and pesticide use can all add up to contribute to their carbon footprints. Here, we will look at how kiwis compare specifically to other fruits in terms of carbon footprint. 

Kiwis are among the highest fruits when it comes to their carbon footprint. They have ten times the carbon footprint of the lowest offenders—clementines and watermelons—and around twice the average of 2.7. Their emissions are certainly not as high as avocados, the top offender, but they are still some of the worst carbon offenders among fruits. 

How Does the Carbon Footprint of Kiwis Compare to Other Types of Food in General

Kiwis have a moderately high carbon footprint when kilocalories are taken into account. This is because they are more calorie-dense than other equivalent fruits. Thus, their carbon footprint is lower per calorie than per pound. 

When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), foods are often compared in terms of emissions per 1,000 kilocalories (as opposed to their weight in lbs or kg).

Since kiwis rank somewhat similarly to berries in terms of carbon footprint per pound. 

• However, kiwis have a much higher calorie density than berries.
• Kiwis pack around 275 calories per pound, whereas strawberries only have around 145 calories per pound. 
• This calorie difference means that kiwis are significantly more calorie efficient than berries, and so their carbon footprint will be lower when kilocalories are taken into account. 
• Therefore, compared to these other foods, kiwis have a more moderate carbon footprint.

How Can You Reduce and Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint

There are many things you can do to cut down on how your kiwi consumption impacts the planet. By carefully considering your consumption habits to reduce carbon emissions and offsetting your carbon through carbon-extraction schemes, you can consume kiwi without having a large negative impact on the earth. 

Some of the carbon risks of kiwis highlighted in this article may be very concerning. However, the good news is that there are a lot of things you can do to lower your carbon emissions while still eating kiwis. Purchasing organic or locally-grown kiwis and disposing of the waste efficiently can help with this. Furthermore, you can consider emission offsets, which work to extract carbon from the atmosphere. Here, we will walk you through how to accomplish both of these things.

How Can You Reduce Your Carbon Footprint When Shopping for Kiwis

Before you start worrying about your offsets, you might be wondering how you can stop producing carbon in the first place through your kiwi consumption. One of the best ways to do this is to look at the parts of the kiwi process that have the highest carbon footprint and start there. In this section, we give you a short list of ways you can reduce your kiwi carbon footprint, so you can continue consuming kiwis without the high carbon price tag.

1. Buy American kiwis: Although kiwis grown in California have higher irrigation rates due to the lower annual rainfall, they are still better than New Zealand-grown kiwis. Transporting kiwis from Oceania is very costly carbon-wise and so it is much better for your carbon footprint to buy your kiwis from the US. 
2. Compost your kiwi peels: The low composting rates of kiwis means that their peels almost always end up in landfills. Therefore, one of the best ways you can reduce your kiwi carbon footprint is by making the effort to compost the peels. If your city doesn’t provide composting services, then you can consider making your own compost. Alternatively, you can even use kiwi peels to make your own sweets!
3. Buy kiwis from smaller farms: Mechanization during the processing stage of kiwis has a significant impact on their carbon footprint. Small or independent farms tend to use less mechanization and so their overall carbon footprint will be smaller. Furthermore, they tend to have higher land efficiency, which can help with another moderate contributor to kiwis’ carbon footprint. Therefore, purchasing your kiwis from smaller farms can help you reduce your kiwi carbon footprint. 

Following some of these methods can really help you to cut down on your kiwi carbon emissions. None of these will bring your emissions down to zero, since there are always hidden carbon costs that may be outside of your control. But reduction is always better than nothing! However, if you do want to get your kiwi emissions down to absolute zero, then you can look into carbon offsets.

How Can You Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint

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 kiwis. 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 kiwis – 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 kiwis, 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

Kiwis are a fun and nutritious snack, but their carbon footprint is among the highest of fruits. Their high transportation distances, mechanized processing, and refrigeration requirements mean that they emit a lot of carbon. But if you make some concerted efforts to reduce your emissions by buying American-grown kiwis and composting your peels, then you will be able to consume kiwis with a much lower carbon footprint.

Stay impactful,

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