“Chilometro Consapevole” is an initiative that aims to be a reference for those who want to understand today’s enogastronomic choices by investigating the reasons behind “Buono, Pulito e Giusto” (Good, Clean, and Fair).

The first step for Tempi di Recupero and the many international experts involved, including several professors from the University of Gastronomic Sciences, was inevitably to evolve the concept of “KM0” because it objectively measures the proximity or distance of a product from the place of purchase but does not consider any qualitative details. Sustainability is a matter of substance, and we must inevitably consider breeding practices, cultivation techniques, packaging, and cost accessibility to choose wisely what we consume.

Being able to consciously evaluate food throughout the entire production chain is an essential element, and our goal is to help you make food choices that are mindful of health, contribute to the preservation of the planet, and, consequently, benefit humanity—all without sacrificing the pleasure of the table. We achieve this with the insights of our experts in the field, who, along with us, strive for the only Clean World that could have a future—one that, without Good and Conscious Nutrition, would inevitably not be Fair.

THE BOOK

Il Chilometro Consapevole” is the book released in September 2022, co-authored by Carlo Petrini and Carlo Catani for Slow Food Editore. Is it possible to understand if and how a product is good, clean, and fair? Can we equip ourselves with a tool that pragmatically clarifies doubts about what we purchase? Measuring sustainability is challenging, perhaps impossible, but it is useful to have intuitive tools that allow us to make informed choices. This becomes necessary in the Western world, where it seems that time to reflect on our daily actions is nonexistent, and purchases are made hastily, almost exclusively in places that encompass different product categories. The possibilities and information available to us today have profound gaps and conceal the complexity inherent in productions, such as the concepts of Km0, true km, free km, and so on.

Having the ability to examine the actual costs of our purchases and actions can help us make better choices. If that’s not enough, the current crisis related to Covid has heightened this need. The reassessment of priorities has made it even more important to have clear tools to seize the opportunity to restart and improve. In fact, the book “Il Chilometro Consapevole” aims to become a simple and intuitive tool, with space for in-depth cards, usable by the entire supply chain, to provide answers to questions and stimulate further insights. More generally, it aims to communicate the complexity behind simple daily actions, that is, to be conscious. The goal is to create a connection between producers, processors, sellers, and, last but not least, the buying public—those whom Petrini rightly defines as co-producers. Practical and common-sense elements are necessary, along with the opportunity to delve into things with a scientific method, such as through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies, based on the product’s life cycle and its environmental footprint.

How the project started

From countless conversations and discussions with colleagues and friends about sustainability, recovery, and their real, theoretical, ethical, and scientific meanings, the idea of a multidisciplinary and conscious approach was born. Becoming aware of oneself and the multifaceted aspects of existence on planet Earth, and we could say in the universe, it is essential to recognize the interconnection between various themes and studies. Invariably, looking at one problem at a time does not lead to a solution but rather to solutions. This is because it is assumed that there is not a single choice or a single recipe, but rather a series of possibilities.

Excluding perfection (probably not even divine), each person can evaluate what is a priority. In the book “Il Chilometro Consapevole,” released in September 2022 by Slow Food Editore (see profile), we shared various perspectives. Written by President Carlo Catani along with Carlo Petrini, the book includes contributions from 29 experts worldwide in various sustainability and awareness topics, including experiences from members of the recovery network. We are confident that what is written in the book cannot be exhaustive, as that was not its purpose. It is primarily an opportunity, the beginning of a broader movement that we want to follow.