thecostofbeef.org
↑ upstream — what goes in
Feed consumed
Water used
since you opened this page
0
cows slaughtered
00:00:00
↓ downstream — what comes out
Beef produced
Beef wasted
CO₂e emitted by beef production

A more efficient plate

CO₂e and water needed to produce 100g of protein

CO₂ emitted Water used Land used
Beef
50 kg 
7,700 L 
164 m² 
Tofu
3.5 kg14× less
2,200 L3.5× less
2.2 m²75× less
Lentils
1.4 kg36× less
900 L9× less
1.6 m²100× less
Chickpeas
0.8 kg62× less
800 L10× less
3.5 m²47× less
Peas
0.4 kg125× less
500 L15× less
3.4 m²48× less
CO₂ emitted
Beef
50 kg 
Tofu
3.5 kg14× less
Lentils
1.4 kg36× less
Chickpeas
0.8 kg62× less
Peas
0.4 kg125× less
Water used
Beef
7,700 L 
Tofu
2,200 L3.5× less
Lentils
900 L9× less
Chickpeas
800 L10× less
Peas
500 L15× less
Land used
Beef
164 m² 
Tofu
2.2 m²75× less
Lentils
1.6 m²100× less
Chickpeas
3.5 m²47× less
Peas
3.4 m²48× less

Per 100g protein · CO₂e & Land: Poore & Nemecek 2018 · Water: Water Footprint Network

What can you do?

01 Try Meatless Monday

Skipping beef once a week can cut your food-related carbon footprint by up to 15%. Small change, real impact.

02 Reduce your consumption

The Reducetarian Foundation helps you cut back at your own pace. Every meal you swap counts.

03 Go vegan for 22 days

Challenge 22 offers a free, structured 22-day vegan challenge with support from volunteer mentors. Take the next step.

Bibliography

  1. FAO (2023) FAOSTAT: Livestock Primary Data. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome: FAO. Available at: fao.org/faostat
  2. Poore, J. and Nemecek, T. (2018) 'Reducing food's environmental impacts through producers and consumers', Science, 360(6392), pp. 987–992.
  3. Mekonnen, M.M. and Hoekstra, A.Y. (2010) The Green, Blue and Grey Water Footprint of Farm Animals and Animal Products. Value of Water Research Report Series No. 48. Delft: UNESCO-IHE. Available at: waterfootprint.org
  4. UNEP (2021) Food Waste Index Report 2021. United Nations Environment Programme. Nairobi: UNEP.
  5. IEA (2023) World Energy Outlook 2023. International Energy Agency. Paris: IEA.
  6. US EPA (2023) Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: epa.gov
🐄 = 1 cow slaughtered