The Reality of Thanksgiving Turkey: The Effects of Turkey Consumption on our Environment

When people think of this time of year, many minds go to the Thanksgiving feast they will be having. Potatoes, corn, bread, and most importantly turkey. Even though the history of Thanksgiving is tainted with the horrible treatment of Native Americans, it has now become a day where people come together to see friends and family, cherish what they are thankful for,  and enjoy a festive meal. While turkey has been a staple of this feast for many years, it also has had a lasting effect on our environment. 

According to the National Turkey Federation, 88% of Americans consume Thanksgiving turkey every year. That is around 46 million turkeys (RealSimple). A 20 lb. turkey which can feed around 12 people can generate around 63.7 lbs of carbon dioxide (Brightly). Why might this be bad? Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases act as a blanket in our atmosphere causing heat to become trapped in our atmosphere. This leads to global warming and worsens climate change (United Nations Climate Action). That means around 2,369,000 tons of carbon dioxide out of the 5,130,000,000 tons annually produced by the United States is produced on Thanksgiving (United States Geological Survey). Turkey is not the only food that releases carbon dioxide during production. In fact, many meats and other foods produce the same if not more carbon dioxide. For example for 1 kilogram of beef to be produced around 60 pounds of carbon dioxide are produced (8 Billion Trees). So why focus on turkey? The fact that turkey production consistently spikes every November causing an enormous increase in carbon dioxide every year is concerning.

Not only is there a spike in carbon dioxide due to the increased production of turkeys, but turkey production also causes bad air and water quality to surrounding air due to the methods used in production. Turkey manure is one of the leading causes of the impact of water and air quality just like other animal manure (Green Eatz). This is one of the many other ways turkey production has an impact on our environment.

So how can you help? In general, even one meatless day a week can decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 7.5 pounds per person (Climate Generation). In terms of Thanksgiving, some dishes can be substituted for plant-based alternatives decreasing carbon emissions. Other easy changes can be as simple as making sure decorations are eco-friendly (Climate Trade).