Carbon footprint analysis for Scope 1 and 2 in meat production – Case study of polish plants

The carbon footprint (CF) analysis of meat production and processing at a large industrial plant in Poland was carried out. In the face of growing environmental awareness and sustainability reporting requirements, the meat industry's impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was examined. The analysis focused on the slaughtering and processing processes of animal raw materials, taking into account direct and indirect emissions (electricity, fuel, transportation and refrigerant consumption). The collected data made it possible to develop a uniform methodology for calculating CF, covering the full life cycle of meat products in a plant. A measurement system and database were created to collect key information on emissions. The total CF of pork production was 0.497 kg CO_2eq/kg. The results showed where the highest emissions are generated, allowing the identification of areas with the highest CF and opportunities for reduction. Average production-related GHG emissions came mainly from indirect emissions (electricity consumption) and accounted 68 % and 70 % respectively for slaughterhouses and processing plants The study highlights the importance of uniform standards for analyzing the meat industry's CF and their impact on the movement toward sustainable production, which is crucial in the fight against climate change. The developed results allow for conscious management of the company's sustainable development.