In recent weeks, the mainstream media has featured several articles questioning the value of "food miles" - a measure of the environmental impact of transporting food from farm to table. Here's why you shouldn’t believe the anti-hype. By Phil Berry

Chipotle announced its new local-sourcing policy during a tough week for the climate metric known as “food miles” – a measure of the environmental impact of how far ingredients must travel to get to your plate. In recent weeks, the mainstream media has featured several articles calling the value of the food-miles metric into question.

In fact, food miles is an example of the type of sophisticated supply chain effectiveness metric I have touted several times in this column. Here’s why you shouldn’t believe the anti-hype.

These articles have criticized the concept of food miles as not representing the carbon in food accurately or being an inappropriate measure of progress. The organizations leveling the criticism – and even some of the people who support the use of the metric - miss the point.

Complex metrics are made from more than a single measurement indicator. They are a combination and, used properly, that is where their potential power comes from. In a complex business, or across an industrial sector, we need high-level metrics of this type to determine progress.

Food miles or book miles or shoe miles are not intended to be a direct measure of greenhouse gas or climate impact. There are other, more basic and valid, assumption in “product miles.”

First, it is an intrinsically good idea to buy local. Whether at an individual level, business level or societal level – short supply chains make more sense. It is better, at a societal level, for the local economy where the consumer or business lives.

Shorter distances mean the supply of the product is more secure and less prone to disruption. Since there is a smaller transportation element in a shorter supply chain – it is less susceptible to one of the largest impacts of rising energy cost.

Finally, it’s about the simplicity of communication and alignment of business goals. As a business, local supply also means there is great opportunity to work with the supplier to get more frequent deliveries and reduce inventory. It is easier to monitor practices and confirm claims on the part of the supplier. A business can more easily audit and monitor issues ranging from labor practices to production costs. An individual can more easily confirm organic production because the retailer has a direct relationship with the grower.

Product miles is one metric that communicates progress toward a large number of business and societal goals – far more than just greenhouse gases. It can be adjusted to also include that measure.

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Phil Berry is SLM's expert-in-residence on sustainable product sourcing and innovation, as well as the host of Sustainable Sourcing Update.