Beyond Meat Beyond Burger Life Cycle Assessment
Introduction
Beyond Meat is a company that produces plant-based meat substitutes. Their flagship product, the Beyond Burger, has gained popularity in recent years as an alternative to traditional beef burgers. But how does the Beyond Burger compare to beef burgers in terms of environmental impact? This article will explore the life cycle assessment of the Beyond Burger.
What is Life Cycle Assessment?
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product or process throughout its entire life cycle. This includes all stages, from raw material extraction to disposal. LCA can help identify areas where improvements can be made to reduce environmental impact.
The Life Cycle Assessment of the Beyond Burger
The life cycle assessment of the Beyond Burger was conducted by the University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems. The study compared the Beyond Burger to a beef burger made from conventional beef and a beef burger made from beef that was raised using regenerative grazing practices.
Raw Materials
The Beyond Burger is made from pea protein isolate, canola oil, coconut oil, and other ingredients. The study found that the Beyond Burger had lower impacts in terms of land use, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions than both beef burgers.
Manufacturing
In terms of manufacturing, the study found that the Beyond Burger had higher impacts than the regenerative beef burger but lower impacts than the conventional beef burger. This is due to the energy used in processing the plant-based ingredients.
Transportation
The Beyond Burger had lower impacts in terms of transportation, as the plant-based ingredients require less energy to transport than beef.
Disposal
The study found that the Beyond Burger had lower impacts in terms of disposal, as there is no waste from animal processing.
Conclusion
The life cycle assessment of the Beyond Burger found that it had lower environmental impacts in terms of land use, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions than both conventional and regenerative beef burgers. While the manufacturing of the Beyond Burger had higher impacts than the regenerative beef burger, it still had lower impacts than the conventional beef burger. Overall, the Beyond Burger appears to be a more sustainable alternative to traditional beef burgers.
