Abstract
The objective of this paper was to present environmental performance of the meat chain and highlight main environmental footprints. The meat sector is recognized as one of the leading polluting sectors in the food industry. The meat chain was analyzed from a five-link perspective introducing the following actors: farm(er)s, slaughterhouses, meat processors, customers and consumers. Meat production needs natural resources (water and energy) resulting in waste and waste water discharge. As an outcome it has a high influence on climate change in respect to global warming, acidification and eutrophication potentials and ozone depletion substances.
Highlights
Meat production is increasing as a result of world's population growth and consumption of meat per capita [1]
Regardless of the role in the meat chain, this type of production seeks for natural resources and emits various pollutants into the environment [air, water, land] [3, 4]
Livestock production is characterized with the inefficiency of animals in converting feed to meat since over 75% of the energy consumed is lost in body maintenance, manure and by-products such as skin and bones [2]
Summary
Meat production is increasing as a result of world's population growth and consumption of meat per capita [1]. Meat is considered as a food product with the greatest environmental impact [2]. Regardless of the role in the meat chain, this type of production seeks for natural resources (land, water and energy) and emits various pollutants into the environment [air, water, land] [3, 4]. Livestock production is characterized with the inefficiency of animals in converting feed to meat since over 75% of the energy consumed is lost in body maintenance, manure and by-products such as skin and bones [2]. Manure management is mostly responsible for polluting the environment. Main environmental impacts in slaughterhouses and meat processing plants are usage of energy, usage of water, waste handling and wastewater discharge [7]. The availability of environmental indicators allows comparing the environmental performance over time and against other food companies, highlighting optimization potentials [8]
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