What are the food categories versions in SIMAP?
There are two versions for purchased food categories in SIMAP: the Basic and Coolfood Pledge versions.
- The Basic version has 18 food categories
- The Coolfood Pledge version has 55 categories that align with the food categories in the Coolfood Pledge
Both versions use carbon emission factors from Poore & Nemecek 2018.
What is the Coolfood Pledge?
The Coolfood Pledge helps institutions reduce the carbon footprints of the food they serve. Read more about WRI, the Coolfood Pledge, and the Cool Food Calculator. The UNH Sustainability Institute and WRI have partnered to promote climate-friendly food purchasing. One aspect of that partnership is to align SIMAP's food categories with the Coolfood Pledge.
How do I switch to the Coolfood Pledge version?
You can use the form below to convert your existing food data from the Basic version to the Coolfood Pledge version.
Convert food data to Coolfood categories
Please note that once you switch to the Coolfood Pledge version, you cannot switch back to the Basic version.
Do I have to switch to the Coolfood Pledge version?
No! You are not required to switch to the Coolfood Pledge version. Both the Basic and Coolfood Pledge versions will be retained and updated in SIMAP for the forseeable future.
What categories are in the Basic version?
The Basic version includes the following 18 food categories:
- Beef
- Pork
- Chicken
- Fish
- Milk
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Grains
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Potatoes
- Beans
- Nuts
- Liquids
- Coffee and tea
- Oils
- Sugars
- Spices
What categories are in the Coolfood Pledge version?
The Coolfood Pledge version includes the following 55 food categories:
- Meats: Beef
- Meats: Lamb & goat
- Meats: Pork
- Meats: Poultry
- Meats: Animal fats
- Fish/seafood: Fish
- Fish/seafood: Crustaceans
- Fish/seafood: Mollusks
- Dairy/eggs: Milk
- Dairy/eggs: Cream
- Dairy/eggs: Yogurt
- Dairy/eggs: Ice cream
- Dairy/eggs: Cheese
- Dairy/eggs: Butter
- Dairy/eggs: Eggs
- Grains/cereals: Average
- Grains/cereals: Corn
- Grains/cereals: Oats
- Grains/cereals: Wheat/rye
- Grains/cereals: Rice
- Grains/cereals: Tree nuts & seeds
- Vegetables: Cabbages & broccoli
- Vegetables: Tomatoes
- Vegetables: Root vegetables
- Vegetables: Onions & leeks
- Vegetables: Other vegetables
- Roots/tubers: Potatoes
- Roots/tubers: Cassava
- Fruits: Average
- Fruits: Apples
- Fruits: Bananas
- Fruits: Berries
- Fruits: Citrus fruit
- Legumes: Average
- Legumes: Beans
- Legumes: Peas
- Legumes: Peanuts/groundnuts
- Legumes: Soybeans/tofu
- Plant-based substitutes: Almond milk
- Plant-based substitutes: Oat milk
- Plant-based substitutes: Rice milk
- Plant-based substitutes: Soy milk
- Liquids: Average
- Alcohol: Beer
- Alcohol: Wine
- Stimulants: Cocoa
- Stimulants: Coffee
- Stimulants: Spices
- Sugars & sweeteners: Average
- Oils: Average
- Oils: Soybean
- Oils: Palm
- Oils: Sunflower
- Oils: Rapeseed/canola
- Oils: Olive
Note that the Cool Food Calculator includes the categories 'Vegetables: Average' and 'Roots/tubers: Average' which SIMAP does NOT include, and SIMAP includes the 'Liquids: Average' category, which is not an option in the Cool Food Calculator.