Feed compounders now consider the environmental footprint of ingredients on top of the nutritional value. Animal by-products (ABPs) have many nutritional benefits but they also offer environmental advantages compared to some plant-based alternatives.
Researchers from Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk updated the carbon footprints of 12 rendered products used in feed and published water footprints for these prodcuts for the first time. The results comply with GFLI guidelines and are available on the GFLI database.
EFPRA fully supported the study with members providing data from 48 production lines from 2020–22, the carbon footprints update a previous study from 2016–18.
Protein meals and rendered fats can all offer advantages to plant-based products regarding the carbon footprint. This benefit is most pronounced when plant-based ingredients are linked with deforestation such as soy and oil palm. For water footprints, the results vary more greatly by product but ABPs particularly protein meals are competitive with plant-based alternatives.
The chart shows global warming contribution per kg of protein. ABP derived protein meals have a relatively small carbon footprint, particularly in comparison with soy which is linked with deforestation.
“Our industry has always worked on the principle that nothing is wasted. Safely processing and reusing animal by-products is an example of the circular economy in action; but it is important to verify these claims with hard evidence, that is why we commissioned these studies.”
Richard van Lijssel, Chairman of the EFPRA Sustainability Committee.
Water footprints
The chart shows the water footprint per kg of product. Water use ranges from 6.56 – 24.40 / kg product. The ‘rendering only’ contribution ranges from 7% – 67%
Water footprints are included in the study for the first time. Currently, There is less requirement from the supply chain for water footprint information but this is may to change in the coming years. EFPRA is keen for its members to be prepared in advance.
Read the EFPRA GFLI White Paper to learn more