The P footprint approach described here emulates the N footprint approach described by Leach et al (2012), with updated (circa 2013-2015 ) values for N from Leach et al (submitted). The N footprint is defined as the N release associated with food and energy consumption, where food consumption is comprised of emissions associated with the food production chain and the treatment of human excreta after consumption. Here we focus both N and P footprints only on agricultural production, food processing, food waste, and sewage components (herein collectively the ‘food footprint’) .

Leach A M, Galloway J N, Bleeker A, Erisman J W, Kohn R and Kitzes J 2012 A nitrogen footprint model to help consumers understand their role in nitrogen losses to the environment Environmental Development 1 40–66.

This dataset is associated with the following publication: Metson, G., G. MacDonald, A. Leach, J. Compton, J. Harrison, and J. Galloway. The U.S. consumer phosphorus footprint: where do nitrogen and phosphorus diverge?. Environmental Research Letters. IOP Publishing LIMITED, Bristol, UK, 15: 105022, (2020).