New research from Cranfield University has analysed the environmental impact of fresh apples sold in the UK, comparing the greenhouse gas emissions and blue water scarcity across domestic production and imports from Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. The study examined nine years of supply chain data, assessing impacts from orchard to cold storage and transport.
Although apples are the second most consumed fruit in the UK after bananas, domestic production supplies only around one third of the fresh apples eaten. To meet year round demand, apples are imported, transported, and often stored for extended periods under refrigeration – processes that significantly influence their environmental footprint.
UK apple production largely relies on rainfall, resulting in a negligible blue water scarcity footprint. In contrast, imports from water stressed regions such as South Africa and Spain require irrigation, leading to substantially higher water scarcity impacts.
In terms of greenhouse gas emissions at the production stage, UK, European and Chilean grown apples perform similarly per kilogram. However, postharvest cold storage accounts for a large share of the total emissions. When long distance shipping from the Southern Hemisphere is included, imported apples generate considerably higher overall emissions. The findings show that environmental performance is shaped not only by how apples are grown, but by how long they are stored and how far they travel.
Tim Hess, Emeritus Professor of Water and Food Systems at Cranfield University and lead author, said: “Our analysis shows that sourcing decisions matter. Apples grown in the UK and Northern Europe deliver low water-scarcity impacts while maintaining comparable greenhouse gas performance. This highlights the value of regional sourcing in managing environmental trade-offs across the supply chain.”
The research concluded that meaningful reductions are achievable at multiple stages of the supply chain, including improving storage efficiency, transitioning to low carbon energy sources, optimising logistics, and investing in sustainable water management where irrigation is required.
Natalia Falagán, Senior Lecturer in Food Science and Technology and co-author of the study added: “Our results challenge the idea that sustainability is determined primarily in the orchard. Postharvest storage and energy sourcing can shift impacts as much as growing conditions. Climate smart supply chains require coordination well beyond the farm gate.”
The research paper How green are my apples? The greenhouse gas emissions and blue water scarcity footprint of fresh apple supply chain has been published open access in Agricultural Water Management .
Agricultural Water Management
Data/statistical analysis
How green are my apples? The greenhouse gas emissions and blue water scarcity footprint of fresh apple supply chain
1-Feb-2026