Meat consumption uses up lots or natural resources and produces massive amounts of CO2. Thanks to Omni Calculator you can see what small changes in your life will have the biggest impact on the planet.
The average American consumes 151kg of animal protein per year, which requires over 220, 000 gallons of water and produces almost 5 tons of CO2; that’s per person! So, as we celebrate International Day without Meat, it’s time to take a critical look at our choices and the available alternatives. And there’s no better way to do it than using Omni Calculator’s Meat Footprint Calculator.
Animals have been the go-to source of protein in developed countries for decades, with massive farms taking meat availability has gone up while prices have gone down. But, “There’s no such thing as free lunch” and we are now waking up to the undesirable effects of industrializing meat production and distribution.
The impact of meat production
Even leaving aside for a moment the ethical concerns, producing meat takes an unreasonble amount of resources. We’ve seen how every year an average american requires about 220, 000 gallons of water for their meat intake. But it’s not just water, to produce enough meat to satisfy the average american needs we also need 150, 000 sq ft of land and over 3, 000 pounds of animal feed as shown by the Meat Footprint Calculator.
But there’s also the by products in produces. Animals produce CO2 as they live and grow, and to meet the average american’s meat need we produce almost 5 tons of CO2.That’s the equivalent of an extra 11, 000 miles driven by car every year!
Time to take action
So eating meat has a huge impact in our environment, but what can do to improve the situation? Clearly the best option is to stop eating meat, but that’s unthinkable for many people and it would have other serous ramifications. A more attainable path for everyon is to simply reduce slightly their meat intake. Thanks to the Meat Footprint Calculator we can see how small changes in our habits can have a huge impact overall.
Coming back to the average american, if they would go one day without meat, or skip a serving of each kind of meat per week, they can save up to 40, 000 gallons of water, 500 pounds of animal feed, 27,000 sq ft of land and over 1, 600 pounds of CO2. That’s a massive impact that we can achieve with a small change in our daily routines.
On top of that, substituting meat with vegetables can have positive benefits for our health and wellbeing, so it’s a win-win situation! These benefits -personal and environmental- are one of the reasons behind innitiatives like the International Day without Meat and Meatless Mondays, as we encourage everyone to try it out and see how sustainable and beneficial it can be for yourself.
Conclusion
Tools such as Omni Calculator’s Meat Footprint Calculator empower us to take control of our life choices and make better decision based on facts and data. They enable everyone to see the consequences of their habits and makes the smartest and most sustainable choices that have the biggest impact.
Food is a massively important factor in our lives as they affect our health, mood and the environment that surrounds us. While we wouldn’t want to force anyone to give up the foods they like or enjoy, it is important to understand the alternatives and the impact that our choices have.