What is the main message of How Bad Are Bananas??

The main message of How Bad Are Bananas? is to understand and reduce the carbon footprint of everyday activities.

Who is the author of How Bad Are Bananas??

Mike Berners-Lee is the author of How Bad Are Bananas?.

Nature & the Environment

How Bad Are Bananas? Book Summary - How Bad Are Bananas? Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

How Bad Are Bananas? summary

Name: How Bad Are Bananas?
Rating: 4.2 (277 reviews)
Author: Mike Berners-Lee

Mike Berners-Lee

The Carbon Footprint of Everything

4.2 (277 ratings)

26 mins

Brief summary

How Bad Are Bananas? by Mike Berners-Lee is a guide to carbon footprinting, exploring the impact of everyday actions and suggesting changes we can make for a more sustainable future.

Topics

Sustainability Climate Change Diet

Table of Contents

How Bad Are Bananas?
Summary of 9 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 9

What’s in it for me? Learn all the life hacks that can shrink your carbon footprint overnight.

It’s hard to miss the news about climate change. Every day there seems to be a new story about melting polar ice, floods, endangered species and how we should expect more hurricanes and extreme weather. It’s up to us, as the citizens of Earth, to push our leaders into action and do our own part to reduce the harmful emissions that are ruining our planet.

We all have our routines, and it’s easy to think that these daily habits of shopping, cooking and washing up are harmless. But just think of how much food you throw away over the course of a year, or how many appliances you leave turned on or plugged in when they don’t really need to be.

In these blinks, you’ll discover the biggest culprits for creating harmful emissions and the tricks to reducing your own footprint without completely rearranging your life. Keep in mind that the estimates that follow are from around 2010, and that a lot has likely changed since then.

In these blinks, you’ll find out

which modes of transport are the most and least environmentally friendly;
which is worse, an orange or a banana; and
which beverages leave the biggest carbon footprint.

A carbon footprint takes into consideration many harmful gases, and the average size varies around the world.

These days, you don’t have to be an environmental scientist to have heard the term carbon footprint. It gets used a lot in discussions about global warming or climate change and refers to the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that gets released during certain processes, whether by a corporation or just one person.

However, carbon dioxide is but one of many gases that contribute to global warming and a carbon footprint. Such harmful emissions are known as greenhouse gases and some of them are far more damaging than CO₂. Methane (CH₄), for example, is twenty-five times as harmful as CO₂, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) is three hundred times worse. And then there are refrigerant gases, which are used in cooling systems and can be several thousand times more potent than CO₂.

In the United Kingdom, CO₂ accounts for 86 percent of its greenhouse gas output, while methane accounts for 7 percent, nitrous oxide 6 percent and refrigerant gases 1 percent.

Since we know how potent all these other gases are in relation to CO₂, a carbon footprint provides an accurate reading on all the major harmful emissions being released. This conversion method is known as carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO₂e.

The average size of a carbon footprint varies from country to country, but it tends to be bigger in the developed world. In Malawi, for example, the average carbon footprint of a person is around 0.1 metric tons of CO₂e per year. The average person in the United Kingdom, however, measures up at around 15 metric tons per year, while the average North American comes in at around 28, and Australians at 30 metric tons. As for the planet as a whole, in 2007 we produced around 49 billion metric tons of CO₂e.

Being British, the author hopes to help the United Kingdom reduce harmful emissions by a significant yet reasonable amount. Berners-Lee has laid the groundwork for such a reduction through what he calls the 10-tonne lifestyle, which would result in the average person going from 15 to 10 metric tons per year – a one-third reduction of each person’s carbon footprint.

In the blinks that follow, we’ll take a closer look at the steps you can take to adopt this lifestyle.

Text messages and emails are low impact, but these small things can add up quickly.

Over the past few decades, computers, mobile devices and cell phones have changed the way we work and communicate. But you may not be aware of the ways you can use this technology more responsibly.

For example, texting someone instead of making a cell-phone call leaves a smaller footprint since it takes up less energy.

In some ways, plastic is better than paper for the environment.

Most of us would probably guess that paper is better for the environment than plastic, but from the carbon dioxide equivalent standpoint, plastic actually beats paper.

That doesn’t mean plastic is good for the environment. On the contrary, plastic debris can linger in the environment for centuries and harm animals in the process. But as far as CO₂e emissions go, plastic is marginally better since it doesn’t rot and create methane emissions like paper does.

Different ways of traveling have different carbon footprints, with flying being the worst.

It probably won’t come as a surprise to know that the gasoline and diesel fueling our cars and trucks leave a big carbon footprint. To produce just one liter adds around 3.15 kilograms CO₂e to a carbon footprint. And in one year, the United Kingdom alone uses around 50 billion liters of gasoline, so its impact on our global footprint is considerable, to say the least.

But if we look at all the different ways to get around, you might be surprised at which method leaves the biggest footprint.

Local produce and meat from nonruminant animals have lower carbon footprints.

You may have heard that a vegetarian or vegan diet is better for the environment, but, in truth, what you eat is less important than where it comes from.

Local fruit will have a small footprint, but if you’re eating fruit that traveled halfway around the world to get to your supermarket, that fruit comes with a big one.

Your favorite beverages may have bigger carbon footprints than you imagine.

When it comes to thinking about your carbon footprint, you might not give too much thought to your beverage selection. But there’s a considerable difference between some of the options you have, whether it’s the kind of water you drink or whether you order a black coffee or a latte.

For starters, you should be aware that bottled water leaves a much bigger footprint than tap water.

You can clean up in more environmentally conscious ways.

When you leave your home, do you ever wonder: Did I turn the oven off? Or, did I leave the iron on? It makes sense to worry about potential fire hazards, but it also makes sense to question whether you’re needlessly wasting energy. So next time, before you leave, make sure you’ve turned the lights off along with all your other appliances.

You can also reduce your footprint by washing your clothes more efficiently.

Harmful gases can come from nature, but human-made emissions are much more numerous.

There are some folks who believe that the environmental damage caused by humans has been exaggerated, and that the harm we’ve done doesn’t hold a candle to what Mother Nature can do to herself.

One such example in this erroneous line of thinking is volcanoes, which are known to emit greenhouse gases even when they’re not erupting.

Eating in a more environmentally conscious way can greatly reduce your carbon footprint.

So, if you’d really like to start a 10-tonne lifestyle, one of the best ways to start is to look at your diet. Since it accounts for 20 percent of your own footprint, being more considerate about what you eat is the perfect place to start.

The first thing to do is eat less meat and dairy.

Want to see all full key ideas from How Bad Are Bananas??

Key ideas in How Bad Are Bananas?

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is How Bad Are Bananas? about?

In How Bad are Bananas? (2010), author Mike Berner-Lee provides readers with an A-to-Z guide of how they can start living a more environmentally conscious life and reduce their own carbon footprint. You may think you’re familiar with climate change and carbon footprints, but do you really know the everyday activities that contribute to the current environmental crisis? From grocery shopping to washing your clothes, you’ll learn how to be more efficient and less wasteful.

How Bad Are Bananas? Review

How Bad Are Bananas? (2010) by Mike Berners-Lee is an eye-opening exploration of carbon footprints and the environmental impact of everyday activities. Here's why this book is worth reading:

Packed with fascinating facts and figures, it reveals the surprising carbon footprints of various products, helping us make informed choices for a more sustainable future.
Using clear and accessible language, the book breaks down complex topics to educate readers about the environmental impact of seemingly innocent actions.
Its practical tips and realistic solutions empower readers to take meaningful steps towards reducing their carbon footprint, inspiring positive change without overwhelming them.

Best quote from How Bad Are Bananas?

In 2008, one-fourth of all texts came from China.

—Mike Berners-Lee

Who should read How Bad Are Bananas??

Anyone curious about their own carbon footprint
Environmentalists in the fight against global warming
Consumers who want to make more informed purchases

About the Author

Mike Berners-Lee is a professor at Lancaster University and the founding director of Small World Consulting, a company that specializes in measuring the carbon footprint of services and products worldwide. He is also the author of The Burning Question: We Can't Burn Half the World's Oil, Coal and Gas. So How Do We Quit? (2013) and a frequent contributor to the Guardian.

Categories with How Bad Are Bananas?

Nature & the Environment

Book summaries like How Bad Are Bananas?

We Are the Weather

Jonathan Safran Foer

Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast

Surviving the Climate Crisis

27 min

4.1

The Necessary Revolution

Peter Senge

How Individuals and Organizations Are Working Together to Create a Sustainable World

12 min

3.6

Not the End of the World

Hannah Ritchie

How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet

21 min

4.1

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Mark Manson

A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

22 min

4.3

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

23 min

4.6

Reversing Alzheimer's

Heather Sandison

The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health

18 min

4.3

The Cult of We

Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell

WeWork, Adam Neumann, and the Great Startup Delusion

Collected works from the supreme theorist of the conscious

20 min

4.6

Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT

Larry Wheeler

Use AI to Generate Ideas, Automate Marketing, and Build Profits

What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know

The Secret to Achieving More with Less

The Path of Liberation through Anger

The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen

Paths, Dangers, Strategies

What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money – That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!

Uncover the Dangers of Humanity’s Increasing Capabilities

14 min

Grasp

Sanjay Sarma

The Science Transforming How We Learn

19 min

4.1

The Virtue Proposition

Sig Berg

Five Virtues to Transform Leadership and Team Performance

16 min

4.5

The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership

Jim Dethmer

A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success

17 min

4.4

I Respectfully Disagree

Justin Jones-Fosu

How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World

15 min

4.3

Designing Your Work Life

Bill Burnett

How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness at Work

The Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook

21 min

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood

A Dystopian Novel Set in a Totalitarian, Loveless Police State

The Secret to Love That Lasts

Obsession, Fury and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game

18 min

4.1

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

Bill Gates

The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need

30 min

4.5

Breaking the Cycle

George N. Collins with Andrew Adleman

Free Yourself from Sex Addiction, Porn Obsession, and Shame

19 min

3.9

Sustainable Leadership

Clarke Murphy

Lessons of Vision, Courage, and Grit from the CEOs Who Dared to Build a Better World

19 min

3.4

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari

Future proof yourself against the 21st Century

20 min

4.4

The Fine Art Of Small Talk

Debra Fine

How To Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills – and Leave a Positive Impression!

How to Get More Done in Less Time, Outsource Everything and Create Your Ideal Mobile Lifestyle

What Ancient Philosophers Teach Us about How to Live

How Geniuses and Speed Freaks Made F1 the Fastest-Growing Sport

The Science and Art of Longevity

Combine Paleo and Vegan to Stay Fit, Happy and Healthy for Life

23 min

4.4

The Situation Room

George Stephanopoulos

The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis

Get Out of Your Own Way

Dave Hollis

A Skeptic’s Guide to Growth and Fulfillment

23 min

4.1

The CBT Workbook for Mental Health

Simón Rego & Sarah Fader

Evidence-Based Exercises to Transform Negative Thoughts and Manage Your Well-Being

16 min

4.4

Stamped from the Beginning

Ibram X. Kendi

The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America

The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal

18 min

4.4

AI for Business Leaders

Michael Ramsay

A Practical Guide to Business Growth and Success

A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives.

23 min

4.5

Beyond Eureka!

Marylene Delbourg-Delphis

The Rocky Roads to Innovating

16 min

How to Think Like a Roman Emperor

Donald Robertson

The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius

20 min

4.7

Invisible Women

Caroline Criado Perez

Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

What you Thought Was a Diagnosis May Be Your Greatest Strength

11 min

3.2

A Short History of Nearly Everything

Bill Bryson

A journey into the most intriguing and intractable questions that science seeks to answer

Developing Mental Agility and Resilience to Thrive in Uncertainty

16 min

4.4

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.