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Environmental Impacts of Egg Production from a Life Cycle Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Aurore Guillaume

    (Department of Product Ecology and Sustainability, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
    Process and Environmental Technology Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Jan Pieter De Nayerlaan 5, B-2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium)

  • Anna Hubatová-Vacková

    (Department of Product Ecology and Sustainability, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Vladimír Kočí

    (Department of Product Ecology and Sustainability, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic)

Abstract

The food industry represents a vast environmental burden to our planet. Most animal products are known to have greater environmental impacts than alternative plant-based sources of nutrition. One of the most consumed animal products are eggs, represented in most dietary habits both as a primary ingredient and processed. In the European Union (EU), eggs for consumption can be produced in four different laying systems: enriched cages, barns, free-range, and organic. In past years, discussions about the ethical perspective have been ongoing among the wider public, industry and academia. However, the essential comparison of environmental impacts of the laying systems has been missing in our region. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an excellent tool for comparing environmental impacts of various scenarios. Therefore, we performed a LCA of several egg-producing subjects in the Czech Republic, representative of all four laying systems. In addition, these regulated laying systems were compared to a community garden system. Our results suggest feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed composition, and manure management to be the most important factors influencing the total environmental impacts of eggs. Moreover, environmental benefits linked to outdoor access or using organic feed over conventional were observed in our study.

Suggested Citation

  • Aurore Guillaume & Anna Hubatová-Vacková & Vladimír Kočí, 2022. "Environmental Impacts of Egg Production from a Life Cycle Perspective," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:3:p:355-:d:762325
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Armando Toscano & Melissa Balzarotti & Ilaria Re, 2022. "Sustainability Practices and Greenwashing Risk in the Italian Poultry Sector: A Grounded Theory Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Eva Polyak & Zita Breitenbach & Eszter Frank & Olivia Mate & Maria Figler & Dorottya Zsalig & Klara Simon & Mate Szijarto & Zoltan Szabo, 2023. "Food and Sustainability: Is It a Matter of Choice?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-22, April.

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