Abstract
Animal agriculture has disproportionate environmental impacts relative to other food production, and animal agriculture alone accounts for at least 16.5% of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Many of the largest meat and dairy companies are aware of environmental concerns and make explicit environmental statements and commitments. Here, we evaluated the most recent sustainability reports and websites (2021–2024) of 33 of the world’s largest meat and dairy companies. We identified 1,240 environmental claims, 70% of which (862) were climate related. Companies provided peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support only three of the 1,240 environmental claims, two of which were climate related. Instead, 98% (1,219 claims) had content suggestive of greenwashing. “Empty claims,” defined as claims that either exaggerate achievements or have limited prospects for achieving articulated goals, were the most prevalent. While all 33 companies engage in some form of greenwashing, Danone made the greatest number of claims demonstrating greenwashing, 105 claims (9%) of 1,219 in total. Fifty claims (4%) directly related to possible financial benefits to the company that encourage the industry to maintain business-as-usual or expand them. Companies making the most greenwashing claims were not necessarily the highest emitters. Unchecked greenwashing misleads consumers and investors and further delays the fundamental changes in high-emitting industries necessary to limit global warming.