Blog #4 - Is My Meal a Problem?

This week, I looked into the environmental impact of a meal I had recently had, a black and blue burger with fries. It tasted amazing, but after doing some research, it’s pretty clear that this kind of meal can have a big environmental footprint. Between the beef, cheese, and fried potatoes, there are a lot of factors contributing to things like greenhouse gas emissions and resource use.

Global and National Actions

At the global and national level, beef production is a huge contributor to climate change. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock accounts for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and beef is one of the biggest culprits (FAO, 2013). One possible solution would be for countries to reduce subsidies for large-scale meat production and instead support more sustainable farming practices. Governments could also include environmental guidelines in national food recommendations. But the problem is, changing big systems like this takes time, and there’s often pushback from powerful industries and people who just don’t want to give up their burgers.

Local Actions

On a smaller scale, cities and local communities can encourage things like farmers’ markets, farm-to-table restaurants, or school lunch programs that focus on sustainable options. Even just offering more plant-based meals at local restaurants could help. Still, not every town or city has access to those kinds of resources, and sometimes they’re just more expensive or harder to get.

Individual and Household Actions

At the individual level, people can choose to eat less red meat, look for locally raised or grass-fed beef, or try out meat alternatives. At home, things like Meatless Mondays or trying more plant-based meals can make a difference. I know personally, I’ve started cutting back on beef without completely giving it up. But again, not everyone has the same access to fresh, affordable food, and old habits are hard to break.

This chart from Our World in Data shows how much greenhouse gas is released per kilogram of food. Beef is clearly the biggest contributor 

Resources:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2013). Tackling climate change through livestock: A global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. FAO. https://www.fao.org/3/i3437e/i3437e.pdf

Ritchie, H. (2020). Environmental impacts of food production. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food

Post #3: Environmental Impacts of My Black + Blue Burger

 The two key ingredients in my black and blue burger were the beef patty and the blue cheese. Most U.S. beef comes from states like Texas and Nebraska, where cattle are raised on large-scale feedlots. Blue cheese is typically made from cow’s milk and is commonly produced in Wisconsin, which leads the U.S. in cheese production (Wisconsin Cheese, 2023).

The environmental impact of beef is significant. Producing just one pound of beef uses over 1,800 gallons of water (Mekonnen & Hoekstra, 2010). This includes water for feed crops, drinking, and processing. Cattle also release methane, a greenhouse gas that traps heat more effectively than carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change (EPA, 2022). Blue cheese production has similar concerns—dairy farming uses large amounts of water and contributes to methane emissions. Growing feed for dairy cows can also lead to fertilizer runoff, which pollutes soil and waterways.

In terms of transportation, the burger was served at a restaurant in Colorado. The beef likely traveled by refrigerated truck from a processing facility, and the cheese may have come from Wisconsin, traveling more than 1,000 miles. The blue cheese was probably the ingredient that traveled the farthest. Other ingredients, like the vegetables or bun, may have been sourced more locally, but exact sources weren’t listed.

As for waste, the meal produced food scraps, paper packaging, and plastic ketchup packets. Most of this likely ended up in a landfill, where it may release methane as it decomposes. The plastic packets could take decades to break down and may not have been recycled.

These environmental effects happen at different scales. Locally, farming impacts water and soil in states like Nebraska and Wisconsin. But globally, methane emissions from beef and dairy contribute to climate change. While I enjoyed the burger in Colorado, the environmental impacts were spread across multiple regions, some of which bear more of the burden than others.

References:

Mekonnen, M. M., & Hoekstra, A. Y. (2010). The green, blue, and grey water footprint of farm animals and animal products. Water Footprint Network.

EPA. (2022). Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions

Wisconsin Cheese. (2023). Wisconsin Cheese Facts. https://wisconsincheese.com/about 

USDA. (2023). Cattle & Beef Industry Overview. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/animal-products/cattle-beef/ 

Post #2: Black + Blue Burger

One of my favorite burgers, a black and blue burger, was when I was in Colorado for Spring Break. I had this black and blue burger with fries for dinner. The burger had a juicy beef patty seasoned with blackened spices like paprika and cayenne pepper, giving it a smoky and spicy crust. It was cooked medium rare, so it stayed tender inside. Melted blue cheese on top added a creamy, tangy flavor that balanced the spice.

The bun was a soft brioche, lightly toasted, with lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, and pickles adding freshness and crunch. The fries were crispy and golden, made from sliced potatoes fried in canola oil, and I dipped them in ketchup.

This meal combined spicy, creamy, and crunchy flavors, making it really satisfying and flavorful.

https://lazydogrestaurants.com/locations/highlands-ranch-co 

Plastic Bag Blog

  In the biggening of the second video, they talk about the consequences of the bags in city of Delhi, India. In this city, people often dump garbage into areas without properly disposing of or even burying it. This creates serious problems for local livestock, especially cattle, which are considered sacred and they freely roam the streets. As the cattle search for food in the trash, they often end up eating plastic bags mixed in with the waste. This can be extremely harmful to their health and is a direct result of improper waste management and the widespread use of single use plastic bags in the area.

The coastal city of Mumbai, India has had its fair share of trouble caused by plastic bags. In the past, the city experienced devastating flooding that ended up killing hundreds of people. The situation was made even worse by the presence of thin, single-use plastic bags, which clogged sewer drains and prevented water from properly draining. To help prevent this kind of disaster from happening again, the city passed a law banning the use of plastic bags. They even formed a special "anti-bag police squad" to enforce the ban and raise awareness. Interestingly, this is the only anti-plastic bag police force in the entire world, making Mumbai’s approach truly unique.

I think plastic bag waste needs to be addressed on multiple scales such as local, national, and global. Locally, communities can organize cleanups, enforce bans or fees on single-use bags, and educate residents. Nationally, governments can support alternatives to plastic and set regulations that guide manufacturers. Globally, we need cooperation between countries, since plastic pollution travels across borders through oceans and waterways. The most effective solutions will probably be a mix of policy, education, and innovation. If all scales work together, we can reduce waste and make more sustainable choices part of everyday life.

References: 

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/india-mumbai-monsoon-rain-climate-change-plastic-bag-ban-pollution-a9155041.html 

Plastic Bag Videos From Module 2