Germanwatch study/German slaughter and dairy companies contribute to climate crisis

In 2022, the 20 German slaughter and dairy companies with the highest turnover recorded almost two thirds (61 per cent) as high emissions as total car traffic in Germany in the same period. However, the information they provide on their climate protection efforts is extremely patchy. These are two key findings of a study presented today by the environmental and consumer protection organisation Germanwatch ( https://t1p.de/j0ibe). For the first time, the study has calculated the greenhouse gas emissions of the ten largest slaughtering and ten largest dairy companies in Germany and analysed the companies’ legal obligations in terms of climate protection.

Apart from a few vague exceptions, the companies’ own information on the complete emissions of their supply chains does not exist – at least not publicly. According to Germanwatch, a query sent to the companies about their emissions and their climate protection measures remained unanswered in almost all cases, even after repeated requests.

The climate-related information provided so far by the market leaders Tönnies and DMK Deutsches Milchkontor, which were analysed in detail in the study, is ultimately inadequate despite initial attempts. They are incomplete, lack transparency and are not coherent,” criticises the main author of the study, Konstantinos Tsilimekis, Head of Global Food, Land Use and Trade at Germanwatch. Companies have a responsibility to develop forward-looking business models in fair partnership with farmers that enable significant reductions in animal numbers and therefore emissions. The next German government should also promote a sustainable food transition in line with the Commission for the Future of Agriculture in order to give agriculture clear prospects.

Greater climate impact than car traffic

A further calculation in the study shows that The total emissions of the 20 corporations amount to up to one and a half times the amount emitted by car traffic in Germany in the same year, if the lost greenhouse gas storage capacity (opportunity costs) is also taken into account in addition to the emissions considered aThis calculation estimates how many emissions are not stored because land is used for agricultural purposes, particularly for animal feed, instead of remaining or becoming covered with natural vegetation.bove.

The Germanwatch study was produced in collaboration with the Faba Konzepte association for the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions and with Green Legal Impact for the discussion of climate-related legal obligations.

Silvia Rausch-Becker Redakteurin
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