Southwest Environmental Limited

Lower Carbon Beef

There is no such thing as low carbon beef. But you could consult us to develope a green claim: "Lower Carbon Beef - Not Good. But Better".

Beef Carbon Footprint

Beef produced to the worst standards can emit over 49kgCO2e per 100g.  Whilst most other meats and cheese top out at about 15kg CO2e per 100g of protein.

This is very high, and eating nuts or beans is a very simple choice to make, in order to reduce food based emissions.

But some Beef can ranges from 20kgCO2e upwards per 100g of protein. So this is a wide range of production methods for beef, that if implemented could make it "lower carbon".

Beef and Climate Change

Beef is the worst meat on average that you could eat if you are concerned about climate change. There are a myriad of problems with it.

Cows are ruminants, and emits large qualities of methane. They eat a lot, typically eating 10kg of feed for each kg of meat produced. And what they are fed on makes a big difference. Worst case cows are reared on soya based feeds, where the soya has been sourced from the amazon.

Methods for Production of Lower Carbon Beef

Lower Carbon Beef is a beef that has been checked by us (in terms of its production method) to ensure it is the lowest 10th percentile of footprints for beef. In order to getting to this elite club, you may have to implement some of the following suggestions:

1. Improve Efficiency - Most Farmers are Thrifty, but that does not always translate to being efficient.
2.  Manage Enteric Methane Emissions -  This can be accomplished via alterations in diet, or via breeding.
3. Manure Management - Possibly some savings here.
4. Soil Management - Methods such as min-till maximize carbon storage potential.

This is a Bad Idea

It is and it isn't.

In an ideal world people would not eat beef. This is the best option for the planet.

However, people do eat beef. And for those that do, there is the understanding that it is a carbon intensive food. And perhaps those people would like to know that their beef is about as low carbon as it can be.

If you would like to talk to us about branding you beef "lower carbon beef". Then please get in touch.