The environmental impact of the teaspoon of sugar in your morning coffee pales next to the impact of the coffee itself and even the electricity required to brew it. But it’s not just a teaspoon of sugar. Americans eat more sugar than any other country in the world. At over 126 grams of sugar per day, that’s more than twice the average among industrialized nations. And we don’t even realize it, thanks to processed foods. There’s sugar in everything you buy, from sandwich bread to protein bars, and besides the health impact, the environmental impact of all those sweeteners may leave a bitter taste in your mouth. What is the environmental footprint of your sweet tooth?
Cane Sugar
Sugar is the most-grown crop in the world, but a lot of it goes to making biofuels and bioplastics instead of sweetening food. The impacts of sugar cultivation vary by location, but producing 1 kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of refined sugar requires on average 1,782 liters of water (that’s more than 470 gallons). In places where crop residues are still burned, a ton of sugar produces around 241 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent. Sugarcane monocropping requires significant chemical inputs that contribute to water pollution. The cultivation of sugar is also labor-intensive; sugar plantations from Central America to Southeast Asia are accused of labor violations and human trafficking.
An international consortium called Bonsucro certifies sustainable sugarcane for corporations but does not provide a consumer-facing label. Organically grown sugar reduces carbon emissions and, through soil-enhancing farming methods, improves carbon sequestration. But most USDA Organic certified sugar is grown in countries with poor labor practices. Fairtrade certified products may be a a better choice, since that label has standards for both labor and sustainability.
Sugar Beets
Sugar beets share many of the same issues as cane sugar, but beets are less water-intensive. On average, 1 kg of sugar from beets requires 920 liters of water. Since the 1990s, most of the sugar produced in the U.S. has come from Roundup Ready GMO beets and is used in processed foods. Although many consumers distrust GMO food crops, the trade-off is that these beets can grow with fewer chemical inputs. However, by definition, GMO crops cannot meet organic standards. One Dutch study found that domestically grown sugar beets had a quarter the climate impact of sugar imported from India, used half as much land, and cut erosion by nearly two-thirds. The information available in the U.S. is less encouraging: Beet processing facilities are found among the nation’s top 20 polluters alongside oil refineries, mining companies, and chemical manufacturers.
Corn Syrup
Nearly a third of America’s cropland is devoted to corn, a crop that uses more chemical inputs and results in more erosion and water pollution than any other. About half of it goes to animal feed, so if you’re looking to reduce environmental impact, cutting down on meat and dairy will go further than avoiding corn syrups.
But the 7% of America’s corn converted to sweeteners still leaves a big footprint. Producing 1 kg of corn syrup takes even more water than an equivalent amount of cane sugar. And like beets, nearly all corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified. (The estimated carbon footprint of corn syrup, one-third kg carbon equivalent per kg, is so low compared to sugar that it probably reflects the different parameters of the studies more than any difference between crops; another study concluded corn syrup had the highest greenhouse gas emissions among Australian cane, U.K. beets, and American corn.)
Cut It Out
There is no clear winner among these sweeteners, but cane sugar, beet sugar, and corn syrup are just the beginning. There are at least 61 different names for sugar listed on food labels, and most products contain multiple types of sugar. You might try baking with healthier sweeteners and replacing the sugar in your tea with honey. And making a point of reading labels will tell you two things: how much and what kind of sugar is in the food you eat.
But when it comes to packaged products, identifying the source of those sugars is nearly impossible. And the options for choosing your own added sugars are limited. It will be easier and healthier to cut your carbon footprint if you replace high-sugar foods with healthier alternatives. So, look for products with the lowest amount of added sugar, regardless of type. And whenever possible, eat fresh, whole foods instead of packaged, processed food products. You’re trying to do that anyway, right?
Feature image courtesy of Haley Owens, Unsplash. This article was originally published on July 8, 2021. We updated some links in August 2022.