It’s no secret that animal agriculture and dairy farming are major contributors to global climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions. As a whole, the livestock sector is responsible for 14.5% of all GHG emissions; 40% of all methane emissions – a greenhouse gas 80x more potent than carbon dioxide, are specifically attributed to cows and other livestock. Milk consumption comes at a cost to the environment.
Every belch and fart from a dairy cow (of which there are, admittedly, many) releases methane into the atmosphere. Like all ruminants (including deer, goats, and sheep), cows have a four-chambered stomach. The largest chamber – the rumen – contains microbes that break down food, producing as much as 50 quarts of gas an hour in the process, most of which is released by belching.
Studies show that adding just 3 ounces of seaweed to a cow’s diet can reduce methane emissions by 82%; garlic and citrus extracts and mixes of green tea and oregano have proven successful as well. Cows also lose energy when they belch – about 12% – so these supplements are a win for farmers too, who will need less feed to nourish their animals.
According to a 2021 study, 60% of consumers rate sustainability as important criteria when purchasing products. A substantial portion of consumers are currently willing to pay for sustainability, demonstrating that there is a market for ‘mission-driven green’ companies and why we see a rise in sustainable companies around the world. (source: ecowatch.com)
That's it: individuals consumers have the power to change the world for the better, simply by choosing the right thing.
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