Node cut-off: 0.4%

Flour and oat flakes (Mel og havregryn)

 

Oat flakes are produced by rolling oat and flours are produced by milling grains.

The main processes influenced by flour and oat flakes demand are shown in the figure below, exemplified by wheat flour ex mill.

 

 

Figure 1: Market based product chain diagram for wheat flour production covering the most important processes in terms of contribution to global warming. Boxes refer to production processes. Names of grey boxes refer to the main product of the processes. Red arrows represent material or energy transfer between two processes; green arrows represent saved material or energy transfer as a result of displacements; green lines represent displacements and red lines represent avoided displacemements. Further details can be found in the LCA model.

Bran is generated as by-products during the milling proces. Bran is in excess in the market and excess bran serves as a component in animal feed. It has been assumed (Landbrugets rådgivningscenter, 2000) that one kg bran displaces one kg spring barley and bran has been eliminated by system expansion, explaining the green lines and arrows.

The table below shows the potential environmental impacts associated with various types of flours as well as oat flakes ex mill and ex retail. 


Wheat flour
 
Impact category Unit Ex mill

Ex retail

Conventional

Organic 

 Conventional

Organic 

Global warming

g CO2-eq.

1010

 

1130

 

Acidification

g SO2-eq.

6.5

 

6.9

 

Nutrient enrichment g NO3-eq. 83   84  
Photochemical smog g ethene eq. 0.23   0.34  
Land use m2 year 1.4   1.4  

Location in database: Material/Food from industry/Bakery and mill/ and Material/Food from supermarket/Others/


Rye flour
 
Impact category Unit Ex mill

Ex retail

 Conventional

Organic 

 Conventional

Organic 

Global warming

g CO2-eq.

980

 

1000

 

Acidification

g SO2-eq.

6.4

 

6.8

 

Nutrient enrichment g NO3-eq. 72   73  
Photochemical smog g ethene eq. 0.28   0.39  
Land use m2 year 2.0   2.0  

Location in database: Material/Food from industry/Bakery and mill/ and Material/Food from supermarket/Others/


Oat flakes
 
Impact category Unit Ex mill

Ex retail

 Conventional

Organic 

 Conventional

Organic 

Global warming

g CO2-eq.

660

 

790

 

Acidification

g SO2-eq.

6.5

 

6.96

 

Nutrient enrichment g NO3-eq.

17

 

17

 

Photochemical smog g ethene eq.

0.30

 

0.40

 

Land use m2 year

2.5

 

2.5

 

Location in database: Material/Food from industry/Bakery and mill/ and Material/Food from supermarket/Others/


References

Landbrugets rådgivningscenter (2000). Tal fra Fodermiddeltabellen, Raport nr. 91. In Danish.