Meat Footprint Calculator
Understand how different meats impact the planet. Calculate annual greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and land demand based on your weekly diet.
Includes cattle farming, feed, and methane emissions.
Typical cooked portion ranges from 100–170 g.
Plant proteins such as tofu or legumes average 2–4 kg CO₂ per kg.
Annual meat consumption
39 kg
Annual carbon footprint
2,340 kg CO₂e
Equivalent to 5,792.08 miles of car travel.
Water footprint
600,600 liters
Land use
12,714 m²
Annual savings if replaced with plants
2,223 kg CO₂e
How to Use This Calculator
Choose the meat you eat most
Pick the primary meat type whose footprint you want to analyze—beef, pork, chicken, and more.
Enter your typical portions
Estimate the average serving size in grams and how many times per week you consume it.
Compare with plant-based options
Adjust the plant-based emission factor to see your potential annual CO₂ savings.
Formula
Annual CO₂ = Servings × Portionkg × 52 × Emissionkg/kg
Savings = (Emissionmeat − Emissionplant) × Servings × Portion × 52
Example: 5 beef servings per week × 0.15 kg × 52 × 60 kg CO₂/kg = 2,340 kg CO₂e annually.
Water and land footprints scale the same way by multiplying annual kg of meat by the respective intensity factors.
About the Meat Footprint Calculator
Meat production varies widely in its environmental impact. Ruminant animals like cattle produce methane, require more feed, and need extensive pasture. Poultry and farmed fish generally have lower emissions per kilogram. This calculator brings those factors together to help you make informed dietary choices.
When to Use This Calculator
- Diet planning: Track annual emissions for personal climate goals.
- Education: Demonstrate resource intensity differences between meat types.
- Sustainability reporting: Estimate catering or food-service impacts.
- Campaigns: Compare outcomes of meatless days or plant-forward initiatives.
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Science-based factors: Draws on meta-analyses from Poore & Nemecek (Science, 2018).
- ✅ Multiple indicators: Goes beyond CO₂ to include water and land metrics.
- ✅ Personalized savings: Shows the benefit of plant-based swaps.
- ✅ Easy scenario testing: Adjust servings and meat types instantly.
Common Applications
Meal planning: Track reductions during initiatives like Meatless Monday.
Corporate cafeterias: Quantify sustainability of menu changes.
Public health campaigns: Combine with nutrition advice to promote climate-smart diets.
Tips for Best Results
- Track actual consumption for a week to calibrate servings.
- Adjust plant emission factor based on the actual protein alternative.
- Consider local sourcing or regenerative practices if data is available.
- Combine this tool with a nutrition tracker to maintain balanced diets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these emission factors global averages?
Yes. Values represent global averages from lifecycle assessments. Local production practices may lower or raise the impact.
Does grass-fed beef change the numbers?
Grass-fed cattle often require more land and can emit similar or higher methane, so the footprint may not decrease. Use custom factors if you have specific farm data.
What about processed meats?
Processed meats like sausages or deli slices typically use the same base meat emissions. Add processing energy if you need a more precise value.
Can I analyze multiple meats?
Run the calculator for each meat type you consume and sum the annual CO₂ results to get your total footprint.