The research consistently shows that plant-based foods generally have a lower environmental impact than animal-based foods — though the picture is nuanced depending on the specific food and how it is produced.
The Evidence
Environmental Factor | Plant-Based | Animal-Based |
Greenhouse gas emissions | Generally lower | Generally higher — particularly beef, lamb, and dairy |
Land use | Generally lower | Generally higher — livestock farming requires significantly more land |
Water use | Generally lower | Generally higher — animal products require more water to produce per calorie |
Why the Difference?
Animal agriculture requires growing crops to feed livestock, which adds an additional layer of resource use before food reaches the plate. Plant-based foods bypass this step — meaning fewer resources are used per meal.
Livestock farming also produces methane — a potent greenhouse gas — which contributes significantly to agriculture's overall climate impact.
How Huel Approaches This
All Huel products are 100% plant-based
Huel measures the carbon footprint of its products to understand and reduce its environmental impact
Huel uses lower-impact ingredients such as oats, peas, and flaxseed — selected for both their nutritional value and environmental credentials
An Important Nuance
Not all plant-based foods are equally sustainable — production methods, transport, and packaging all play a role. Huel's approach focuses on making genuinely lower-impact choices across the full supply chain, not just the ingredient list.
Want to know more about Huel's sustainability approach? Say "talk to a human" and our team will be happy to help.