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Carbon footprint of cheese
Cheese has a footprint of about 21 kg CO2e per kilogram (2.1 kg per 100 g). See how it compares and a lower-impact swap.
How cheese compares
At about 21 kg of CO2-equivalent per kilogram, cheese ranks 3 of 24 foods on this list, where number one is the highest-impact. That is roughly 53 times the footprint of the lowest-impact foods here, such as apples, citrus and root vegetables. It is higher than chicken (about 6 kg/kg).
A lower-impact swap
Smaller portions, or spreads like hummus, bring it right down.
Where it sits on the scale
| Food | Group | ≈ kg CO2e / kg |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | Red meat | 60 |
| Lamb & mutton | Red meat | 24 |
| ➤ Cheese | Dairy | 21 |
| Palm oil | Oil | 8.0 |
| Pork | Meat | 7.0 |
A median estimate that varies widely by farm and method — a guide, not a precise figure for a particular product.
Source: Poore, J. & Nemecek, T. (2018), Science 360, 987–992. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the carbon footprint of cheese?
About 21 kg of CO2-equivalent per kilogram, or roughly 2.1 kg per 100 g — a median estimate across the whole supply chain.
What is a lower-impact alternative to cheese?
Smaller portions, or spreads like hummus, bring it right down.
Track the food, mind the footprint
TempoLife logs what you eat and its nutrition — an easy place to try lower-impact swaps.