NYC Public Schools GHG report

Learn about the positive impact that NYC Public School’s plant-based menu changes are having on the environment.

Executive summary

The study compared food purchasing data from October 2018 (before Plant-Powered Fridays was initiated) to purchases in October 2022 (after Plant-Powered Fridays was underway) and found a 42% reduction in overall carbon emissions per student from the program. In addition, many other positive impacts on water and land use occurred. Key findings include the following:

• NYC OFNS’ menu changes between October 2018 and October 2022 reduced the carbon and water footprints from animal products by roughly 40%, and the land footprint from animal products by over 50%.
• NYC OFNS reduced the carbon footprint per student served between 2018 and 2022 by about 40%, the water footprint of student meals by about one-third, and the land footprint of students by about 50%.
• The carbon footprint of food purchases was about 30 pounds lower per student, or 16,000 tons lower overall, in October 2022 than in October 2018. This reduction is equivalent to the amount of carbon saved by planting 240,000 trees and growing them for 10 years, or by recycling 640,000 bags of waste (paper, metal and plastic, instead of landfilling them).
• The water footprint of food purchases was about 300 gallons lower per student, or 320 million gallons lower overall, in October 2022 than in October 2018. That is enough drinking water for 3.5 million people for a year.
• The land footprint of food purchases was about 300 square feet smaller per student, or 7,200 acres smaller overall, in October 2022 than in October 2018. That is equivalent to the farmland needed to feed 14,000 people for a year.
• Plant foods represented a larger proportion of food purchases in October 2022 than in October 2018, increasing from 45% to 50%.