Eating green does not mean eating green foods, it means choosing foods that have less of an impact on our environment. We think of driving big cars and not recycling as ways we are hurting our environment, but eating meat in the large quantities we do in developed countries is an even bigger detriment to the environment. Livestock like cattle, sheep and pigs eat a lot and create a lot of waste. Where does all this food come from, and where does all this waste go?

In United States livestock are responsible for an estimated:
• 55% of erosions and sediment
• 37% of pesticide use
• 50% of antibiotic use
• A third of the loads of nitrogen and phosphorus into freshwater resources

A lot of crops need to be raised solely to feed animals. The livestock sector is a key player in increasing water use, accounting for over 8 percent of global human water use, mostly for the irrigation of feed crops (7 percent).

It is probably the largest sectoral source of:
• Water pollution (contributing to eutrophication, ”dead” zones in coastal areas)
• Degradation of coral reefs
• Human health problems
• Emergence of antibiotic resistance

When we hear the word “pollution” we think of smog and acid rain but in realty pollution is the contribution of any contaminant into our enviorment.

The major sources of pollution are from:
• Animal wastes
• Antibiotics and hormones
• Chemicals from tanneries
• Fertilizers and pesticides used for feedcrops
• Sediments from eroded pastures

The good news is, there are a few things we can do!
Try:
Going Meatless one night a week
Buying locally
Paying more attention to where your food comes from