THE SUNDAY TIMES: Chocolate’s not so yummy eco‑secret

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Wispa it but our chocolate cravings damage the environment, according to scientists who have calculated that the UK’s chocolate industry generates about the same amount of greenhouse gases as Malta.

The Manchester University study, published in the journal Food Research International, looked at the impact of chocolate by assessing the ingredients and processes behind big brands.

Adisa Azapagic, one of the authors, said: “The question is: what and how do we eat so as to minimise the impact on the environment?”

The research looked at everything involved in making a chocolate bar, from the packaging to the growing of the ingredients. The study estimates that the chocolate industry produces about 2.1m tons of greenhouse gases a year; Malta produces almost 2.3m tons.