Carbon Emissions

Vegan Whole Cut Steak

©Chunk Foods/ The Butcher's Daughter
Sustainability / Environment

Study Finds Plant-Based Beef Significantly More Sustainable Than Traditional Beef

A research team from Macquarie University in Australia has conducted a comparative study analyzing papers from various countries on the sustainability and nutrition of beef versus plant-based beef, revealing some interesting results. Plant-based beef was found to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, with reductions ranging from 86% to 97% in various studies. Plant-based beef also requires less land, estimated to be less than 5%.  “Roughly 75 % of global agricultural land is for animal production while animal-based foods provide only 18 % human calories and 25 % protein in global good supply,” states the paper. The new research also shows that plant-based beef, particularly burgers, generally have lower energy and saturated fat content but lower levels of protein compared to beef. Emission sources Cattle contribute to emissions primarily …

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Willicroft dairy alternatives

© Willicroft
Facts & Figures

Willicroft Dairy Alternatives Produce Up to 25X Fewer Emissions Than Conventional Dairy

Dutch dairy alternatives producer Willicroft has published a product emissions report comparing the environmental impact of its plant-based cheeses and butter to equivalent dairy products. The results take into account agricultural processes, production, packaging, transportation, and end-of-life for packaging. They show that Willicroft cheeses produce up to 25 times fewer carbon emissions than their dairy equivalents; for example, Willicroft Greek White generates just 1.26 kg of CO2 equivalent per kilogram, while traditional feta produces 34.1 kg. The brand’s butter alternative, Original Better, produces 2.48 kg CO2-eq/kg, compared to 16.9 kg for dairy butter. Furthermore, many of the products have lower emissions than dairy alternatives made by other plant-based brands. Original Better outperforms an Upfield butter alternative, and is roughly on par with Naturli’s organic spread. …

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Lidl announces price parity of own brand Vemondo range

© Lidl Deutschland

Studies & Numbers

Just 6 Food Retailers Can Have Significant Impact on Climate & Planet by Shift to 50% Plant Proteins by 2030

A new report by Dutch research consultancy Profundo commissioned by US environmental group Madre Brava shows that the world’s leading supermarket chains have the power to reduce the impact of animal agriculture on the environment and achieve significant climate, land, and water benefits for humans, animals, and the planet.   According to the report, if food retailers Ahold Delhaize from the Netherlands, Carrefour from France, Thailand’s CP All, Lidl from Germany, Tesco from the UK, and the world’s second-largest foodservice company Sodexo (France), achieve 50% plant-based sales by 2030, they would reduce GHG by 31.6 million tonnes per year — equivalent to removing more than 25 million cars from EU roads.   Additionally, since global beef, pork, and poultry production negatively impacts land and water use, such an …

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A picture of a forest taken from above, displaying in white CO2

© Philip-stock.adobe.com
Agriculture / Agribusiness

GHG Emissions of Meat and Dairy Giants Increase Over 3% Yearly, Shows FAIRR Protein Index

As global leaders prepare for COP28 in Dubai and with FAO revealing the “true cost of food,” data from the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index shows that disclosed emissions from 20 of the largest meat and dairy companies are still rising yearly.  Specifically, figures show a 3.28% rise in the emissions of suppliers to household names, including McDonald’s and Walmart, and firms such as Hormel Foods (US) and New Hope Liuhe (China).  On the other hand, the data shows that Tyson Foods and Danone reported a decrease in their disclosed emissions this year; however, the progress made by these companies has been counteracted by the sector’s total emissions, says FAIRR.  “The failure of leading meat and dairy companies to reduce emissions underlines the urgent need for more policy …

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Oatly's call for Big Dairy execs to join debate receives just one response

© Mossgiel Organic Farm
Sustainability / Environment

Oatly’s Call for Big Dairy Execs to Join Climate Labelling Debate Receives Just One Response

As part of its campaign calling for climate labelling on all food and drink products in the UK, Oatly recently hosted a debate where it invited a “Big Dairy Executive” to explain their stance on the subject. Despite the spot being open to dairy executives from across the EU, and the 26 million views received by Oatly’s campaign launch video on social media, the company received just one response from the dairy industry — and it wasn’t from an executive. Bryce Cunningham is a farmer from Mossgiel Organic Farm in Ayrshire, Scotland, who told the Daily Record that he “felt that Oatly’s claims were unjustified”. Mossgiel is working to reduce its carbon emissions, with the aim of reaching net zero by December 2025. The farm …

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Oatly calls for climate labelling

© Oatly
Sustainability / Environment

Oatly Calls for Climate Labelling in the UK, Challenges “Big Dairy” to Publish Its Climate Impact

Oatly has launched a campaign calling for all food and drink producers in the UK to adopt climate labelling. The company, which already makes its emissions data public, has published a paper titled Climate Labelling: Why Not? to make the case for others to follow suit. The report has been dubbed a “grey paper”, in recognition of the fact that “climate labelling isn’t a black and white issue where certain foods are good and others are not”. Oatly hopes to join forces with other companies to come up with an effective climate labelling system and put pressure on the UK government to make it mandatory. To promote the campaign, Oatly is offering free high-profile ad spots to the dairy industry if it makes its climate …

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IKEA works to cut emissions

© IKEA
Sustainability / Environment

IKEA Expands Plant-Based Range to Cut Emissions, Aims to “Remove or Replace Dairy”

IKEA has published its annual sustainability report, revealing that offering more plant-based foods is an important part of the company’s strategy to cut emissions. The Swedish retailer said it had seen an increase in the popularity of plant-based options, with the veggie ball and plant ball now accounting for 17% of frozen meatball sales — up from 14% in 2021. In the chain’s in-store Swedish Food Markets, the meatballs have increased from 24% to 26% of sales. Meanwhile, IKEA Germany has been experimenting with a new scientifically-backed communication approach for promoting plant-based foods. Following the trial, sales of vegan hot dogs have almost doubled compared to 2019 figures. However, this has been partially attributed to a decrease in price. The changes are part of IKEA’s …

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red raw meat on old wooden table

©Mara Zemgaliete - stock.adobe.com
Sustainability / Environment

New Study Finds Climate Impact Labels on Menus Encourage Less Red Meat Consumption

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) finds that climate impact labels on fast food menus are an effective strategy for promoting sustainable food consumption.  When presented with high-climate and low-climate impact menu options, more participants ordered a sustainable (ie non-red meat) fast food item compared to the control group. According to researchers, these findings suggest such labels offer an effective strategy for reducing red meat menu selections in favor of more eco-friendly choices.  As the authors state, animal-based food production, especially beef, is estimated to be responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing red meat consumption could lower diet-related emissions by as much as 55%. Since about one-third of Americans consume fast food every day, the …

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The founders turning carbon dioxide into protein

Arkeon founders. © Arkeon
Investments & Acquisitions

Arkeon Biotechnologies Secures Over €‎10M to Convert CO2 Into Food

Vienna’s Arkeon Biotechnologies, a startup converting CO2 into functional, carbon-negative ingredients for food; raised seed funding of €‎6.5 million last March and now announces it has secured another four million euros. Arkeon’s technology uses gas fermentation to transform CO2 into proteins and the process, according to the company, generates all 20 essential amino acids using a microorganism that produces them in just one fermentation process. The resulting proteins require 99% less land and only 0.01% of the amount of water used by conventional agriculture. New investors include ICL, aws Gründerfonds, FoodHack and Tet Ventures, with the fresh funds going towards the expansion of its proprietary technology as well as the planning of a new R&D centre. “We are very pleased to have the support of …

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Cows/ cattle

Courtesy of ProVeg International

Studies & Numbers

Report Says Replacing Meat With Plants Could Slash UK Agricultural Methane Emissions

Independent think tank Green Alliance has published a report outlining how the UK could cut methane emissions by 42% by the end of the decade. This figure is considerably more than the 30% commitment made by the UK and other countries at last year’s COP26 summit. Achieving it would partially depend on replacing meat and dairy products with more sustainable alternatives such as plant proteins, a move that could reduce agricultural methane emissions by 8%. Shifting towards a healthier dietary pattern, with less protein and more fresh produce, would lead to a further 8% cut. The report also outlines other ways of cutting methane production in the areas of agriculture, energy, and waste. A drastic reduction is vital, since methane has 80 times more warming …

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Wicked Kitchen Rustic Vegetable Pizza

© Wicked Kitchen
Studies & Numbers

Consumers Urged to Cut 40% of Emissions by Eating One Plant-Based Meal Per Day

This World Vegan Day, plant-based brand Wicked Kitchen is urging consumers to help the planet by eating a plant-based meal every day. According to the company, this could reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by over 40%, which is more than any other action such as recycling or buying local. It could also save four animals per person per year from slaughter, meaning 1.2 billion would be saved annually in the US alone if everyone made the change. “With every bite, consumers have the power to radically transform the world to become a more compassionate, healthier place,” said Pete Speranza, CEO of Wicked Kitchen. “What we choose to eat every day can truly help ameliorate human and animal suffering, environmental crises, and infectious and chronic diseases. …

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vegan leather cars in a porsche

© Porsche
Materials

Rising Trend Towards Vegan Friendly Cars

“There is not a completely vegan car on the market,” the Vegan Society says in its Vegan Vehicles: The Future of Cars Report 2022. However, car manufacturers have been offering non-leather interiors for a while, with many pledging to use alternative materials in their new and existing models in coming years.  Animal leather has traditionally been the standard option for premium car seats and interiors, but current luxury trends do not involve the slaughter of animals. Demand for alternative materials is making the automobile industry incorporate more vegan options for its models, adding to the rise in the global synthetic leather market which is on track to reach $67.2 billion by 2030, according to Straits Research. Growing trend towards animal-free interiors In 2020, PETA published its …

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Scramble OGGS

© OGGS
Products & Launches

Scrambled OGGS Launches in Over 500 Sainsbury’s Stores Across the UK

UK egg alternative brand OGGS  is launching its plant-based Scrambled OGGS over 500 Sainsbury’s stores across the UK this September 14th.  According to Oggs, Sainsbury’s has decided to increase distribution from 126 to almost every store following the news that Scrambled OGGS is the UK’s best-performing egg alternative. CEO and Founder of OGGS, Hannah Carter, commented: “The launch of Scrambled OGGS® nationwide marks the next stage in our mission to remove unnecessary egg products from the food chain. If you could switch eggs for a plant-based option that tastes great and produces 60% less CO2e – why wouldn’t you?” No more breakfasts without eggs Sales of plant-based egg alternatives in the UK have grown by 99% in the last year, with vegans and carbon-reducers looking …

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ISS Guckeheimer Chef with Plants

©ISS Guckeheimer
Company News

ISS Guckenheimer Partners with Humane Society to Make Menu 55% Plant-Based by 2025

ISS Guckenheimer, a leading food services provider, has pledged to make 55% of its menu options fully plant-based by 2025. This represents the strongest such commitment to date by any food service provider, the company says. As part of the Cool Food Pledge, the company is seeking to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 25% over the next three years. To meet these goals, Guckenhimer is working with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to develop plant-based recipes, culinary trainings and greenhouse gas assessments. The company also intends to increase the number of plant-based menu offerings, reduce its reliance on meat-based dishes, and manage the portion sizes of animal protein. Guckeheimer is further enhancing its climate change impact by rolling …

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Cows/ cattle

Courtesy of ProVeg International

Sustainability / Environment

Wall St Journal – We Urge You to Rectify Fake News, For the Sake of the Planet

The following is an open letter from ProVeg International to the Wall Street Journal, in response to the disinformation printed in the sponsored full-page ad entitled “Beefing up Sustainability” from Saturday 14th August. Dear Wall Street Journal, Dear Mr. Murray, We were forwarded the attached advertisement with manipulated science displayed in a recent Wall Street Journal, and we would like to ask your help in rectifying the advertisement as continuing to promote beef consumption will cause tremendous damage to our planet.  This advertisement is based on questionable data, it is not credible, and contradicts data supported by the international scientific reports and data as presented by institutions like the FAO, UNEP and the IPCC (leading international data sources.) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the …

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Bocados.Especiados - Foods for tomorrow

©Foods For Tomorrow
Sustainability / Environment

Spanish Plant Meat Brand Heura to Reduce 12.85 Tons of Plastic Every Year

Barcelona-based plant meat producer Heura, the fastest growing startup in Europe, replaced the plastic of its frozen products in January 2019 and now presents its new tray made of 100% recycled cardboard, reducing 80% of plastic packaging, a decision that Heura says will mean there will be 12.85 tons less plastic waste every year.

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