Ecological Footprint - Eating Fast Food

Forests
1. Napkins, paper cups, etc. are made from paper and are generally not recycled
2. More paper waste means more trees are cut down
Fisheries
1. Some fast food restaurants serve fish (burgers, tacos, etc.)
2. With such a large population and so much wasted/uneaten food, a great deal of stress is put on fish populations
Built Space
1. Fast food restaurants are hardly ever 2 stories, meaning they take up a lot of horizontal space
2. Many stores are much larger than necessary, but are built to feel open and look "nice"
3. Parking lots, company factories, and chain store offices also contribute to taking up more space
Energy
1. Energy powers the machines (fryer, washing machine, etc.) at fast food restaurants
2. Energy is used to process/make the items sold (cups, wrappers, food, etc.)
3. Lights on in the restaurants and powering the inside and outside signs use up a lot of energy, especially in stores open for 24 hours
Cropland
1. A huge amount of cropland is used to grow plants like wheat that are used in fast food. These crops also feed livestock.
2. Natural areas like forests or marshes are destroyed to make more room for cropland.
Pasture
1. Livestock used in fast food are kept in pastures.
2. Pastures sometimes replace natural areas and habitats like forests or grasslands.

Resource summary

	Created by Madall23 about 9 years ago