Panera Adds Badges to Low Carbon Footprint Menu Items | Eater

"A decade after becoming the first national chain to put calorie counts on its menus, this fast-casual operator is adding climate transparency by marking salads, sandwiches, and soups with “Cool Food Meal” badges for items with lifecycle carbon footprints below 5.38 kilograms of CO2. Working with the World Resources Institute to calculate ingredient footprints, the program covers more than half of entrees; examples of designated items include broccoli cheddar soup, the Fuji apple salad with chicken, and the Mediterranean bowl. Sara Burnett, the company’s vice president of food values, sustainability, and public affairs, says the initiative is intended to educate guests about sustainable options and help them understand the real climate impact of their plates, a move framed against broader concerns that the global food system contributes a substantial share of greenhouse emissions." - Jenny G. Zhang