Although some of the rewards of eating a plant-based diet may include lowered risks of getting certain diseases and saving animals, the the impact of a vegetarian diet are rarely presented in a way that seems tangible. However, the Vegetarian Calculator is a tool that makes it easy to see the benefits for animals and the environment.
The Vegetarian Calculator includes tools for making monthly and yearly estimates on the total number of animals saved, the pounds of meat that a person has avoided consuming and the pounds of CO2 that have not been released into the atmosphere.
Using data from the USDA, the calculator takes into account the costs of food, oil, water and the resources required to raise and transport animals for food, claiming that raising livestock is the second leading cause of global warming.
What's Driving This Trend
- Vegetarianism
- Development of vegetarianism and plant-based diets is a growing trend for reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by the meat industry.
- Eco-calculators
- The development of eco-calculators is becoming more prevalent in showing consumers the true cost of their lifestyles on the environment and other species.
- Conscious Consumption
- The rise of conscious consumption is a trend in which consumers are making purchasing decisions based on ethical values rather than just convenience or price.
Who This Affects Most
- Food
- The food industry can leverage this trend with innovations such as plant-based meat alternatives and using eco-calculators to show the environmental impact of their products.
- Carbon Offsetting
- The carbon offsetting industry can capitalize on this trend by offering individuals and businesses a way to offset their carbon footprint through initiatives such as tree planting or renewable energy investments.
- Sustainability Consulting
- Sustainability consulting firms can benefit from this trend as more businesses seek to assess and reduce their environmental impact.
