Sustainability of Meat Chain: The Carbon Footprint of Brazilian Consumers

摘要

The term "carbon footprint" of products refers to the mass of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted due to the production, use, and disposal of a product. The option of buying food is a complex behavior influenced by different factors that play an essential role in consumer perceptions. The present study aimed to analyze the carbon footprint profile of Brazilian consumers of beef, broiler meat, and vegetarian. A questionnaire was sent by e-mail, and 222 answers were obtained. Three consumer profiles were defined based on the similarities (C0, C1, and C2). The carbon footprint of C0 was 18 ± 3 tons/year; the C1 17 ± 2 tons/year; and the group C2 had 18 ± 3 tons/year. No difference in the carbon footprint of the meat eaters and vegetarians was found in the clusters studied. The meat consumers and the vegetarians have the same impact on the environment when the WWF calculator is applied.