Impact of Danish pork on the climate in an international perspective

It is difficult to relate to the many facts about climate change impacts without a standardised model for comparing these impacts. It is therefore relevant to look at Danish Crown’s products in an international perspective. We have taken a look at Danish pork, which is by far the most important product in the Group’s product range.

Danish pork production is among the most efficient in the world, which also has a bearing on climate change impacts, especially thanks to the low consumption of feedstuffs and the environmentally sound handling of manure. The consumption of feedstuffs per kg of live pig weight is lower in Denmark compared to any of the major players in the world market and to the most important markets for Danish pork products.

The high level of efficiency in Danish pork production has a positive bearing on the climate change impact per kg of pork produced, while at the same time reducing the impact on the aquatic environment.

Danish Crown is one of the largest exporters of pork in the world. Most Danish pork is transported to other markets, both to neighbouring countries and to more distant markets, such as Japan. Danish pork sold in, for example, the UK is transported significantly further than English pork. Nevertheless, the climate change impact per kg of Danish pork is not higher than for English pork. The climate change impact of the increased transport is, in fact, negligible in comparison with the head start afforded by Danish primary production.

This is why it does not make climate-political sense to focus on ‘food miles’, which measure simply how far food is transported. We need to look at the climate change impact as a whole.