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1h ago

Study Finds 98% of Meat and Dairy Climate Claims Amount to Greenwashing

The peer-reviewed analysis warns that offset-heavy pledges can hide a lack of real cuts in a high-emitting sector.

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Cows at a dairy farm in Mount Vernon, Washington, US, on April 20, 2026.
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Overview

  • The PLOS Climate study, published Wednesday, reviewed 1,233 public claims by 33 major meat and dairy firms and judged about 98% as misleading greenwashing.
  • Only 29% of statements cited any outside evidence, and just three claims across all companies were backed by scholarly research.
  • Animal agriculture drives a large share of warming, with livestock linked to about 16.5% of global greenhouse gases and much of the impact coming from methane.
  • Net-zero promises grew from four companies in 2020 to 17 by 2024, yet many targets lean on carbon offsets rather than proven emission cuts.
  • Scrutiny is mounting, with New York’s 2024 lawsuit challenging JBS’s net-zero claim, while Arla disputes the study and points to third-party-approved goals and reported cuts.