‘Meat tax’ could have significant impact on environmental footprint, study finds

A new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, published in Nature Food, found that applying standard VAT rates to meat products in the EU could significantly reduce the environmental impact of food consumption. The study highlights that meat production contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and pollution, yet most EU countries apply reduced tax rates to meat. Researchers calculated that ending these tax breaks could lower environmental damage by 3% to 6% at a minimal cost to households, around €26 annually. The study suggests that removing tax breaks on meat is a simple first step to reflect the true environmental costs of food production.

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