Historic levels of participation in AMPC environmental performance review

Biomass boilers are assisting processors through generation of sustainable fuel.

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) has released its latest Environmental Performance Review (EPR) with the largest-ever number of processors contributing data to the voluntary scheme.

Thirty-one sites took part in the 2022 EPR, up from 26 in the previous review in 2020, representing almost 60% of national production and recognising the increasing interest in sustainability.

The sites were located across Australia and ranged greatly in production output, and although the sample was skewed toward larger processors, there was no evidence facility size had a significant bearing on environmental performance. As such, the results presented in the report are considered representative of the industry overall.

Taking a whole of supply chain approach, the red meat processing industry now also coordinates with the ABSF and Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework (SSF), and in this report has for the first time separated indicator results for beef and sheep processing.

Water demand was at a level very similar level at 8.0 kL/t HSCW (Hot standard carcase weight) in 2022 compared to 7.9 kL/t HSCW in 2020. There were differences between beef and sheep processing with beef processors increasing their water intake relative to sheep processors. This may have been due to beef cattle processors operating substantially below capacity during the 2021/2022 financial year, with production down more than 20% the previous survey year.

Wastewater quality indicators were mostly improved, and particularly so in the case of discharge to the aquatic environment where levels of phosphorus and nitrogen averaged 18 and 31 mg/L, respectively, compared to the previous survey of 44 and 99 mg/L.

Energy use intensity was marginally higher than in 2020 at 3435 MJ/t HSCW, and only a small difference between processors of beef cattle and sheep was evident. Previously, it has been reported that beef processing requires substantially less energy per t HSWC than sheep. As such, the results from 2022 again point to inefficiencies related to lower production by beef processors in the past financial year.

The contribution of biogas to total energy demand increased to 7.7%, consistent with the increasing uptake of anaerobic lagoons for wastewater treatment.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were 447 kg CO₂e/t HSCW, higher than in 2020 and more like the level reported in 2015, with beef processors reporting substantially higher emissions compared to sheep processors (476 kg CO₂e/t HSCW compared to 364 kg CO₂e/t HSCW). Again, AMPC reports this is contrary to expectations as it has previously been reported that GHG emissions related to beef processing are ordinarily lower per t HSCW than for sheep. The inefficiencies related to lower production by beef processors appear to have contributed.

Waste sent to landfill was 17.3 kg/t HSCW, a level higher than in previous surveys. The reasons are unclear but potentially this was due to more complete record keeping practices aligned with a heightened awareness of sustainability. It is not otherwise expected that red meat processors would have materially increased waste production over this period.

Finally, local amenity indicators both showed further improvement compared to 2020, with noise complaints more than halving to an average of 1.7 per site per year, and odour complaints being very uncommon at less than 0.1 per site per year.

Significant improvements have been made across the sector in the 25 years since the first industry-wide environmental snapshot and in a further deepening of the commitment to sustainability, the red meat processing industry has committed to biennial reporting of its environmental performance reviews into the future.