New data framework enhances sustainability reporting for Australia’s red meat processing and wool industries
A research project co-funded by the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC), Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has delivered a significant step forward for sustainability reporting in Australia’s red meat and wool industries, developing a data framework that provides a more accurate, science-based measurement of environmental performance.
The need for sustainability reporting continues to rise for the red meat processing and wool industries. The frequency of reporting, the range of indicators included, and the detail of results have all increased over time. Meanwhile, transparency regarding emissions reduction has grown due to customer expectations and government targets.
The new framework, developed by Integrity Ag, enables state-level reporting of product carbon footprints for beef, and introduces national estimates of land-use and statistical land-use change (sLUC) emissions attributable to beef, sheep meat and wool. It also includes new indicators, such as freshwater consumption for sheep and carbon footprints for boxed beef and sheep meat at the commodity level.
AMPC Program Manager Sustainability Matthew Deegan said, “This is the first time our industries have been able to calculate emissions at the product level, right to the point of sale.”
“It gives processors a stronger social licence and greater credibility by showing that we are applying science-based, transparent methods to measure and improve performance.”
The study's results show improvements across all reporting areas. The carbon footprint of beef (live weight) decreased by 4.7 per cent compared to the previous reporting period in 2020, down to 12.1 kg CO₂-e per kg of live weight and 11.9 kg CO2 e per kg liveweight when dairy beef was included, while sheep meat saw a 7 per cent reduction to 6.8 kg CO2 e per kg live weight, and wool also decreased 7% from 26.3 to 24.5 kg CO₂-e per kg greasy weight. Boxed beef and sheep meat were reported for the first time, providing a critical benchmark for processors and producers.
The research found that industry-specific, science-based methodologies can produce more accurate emission estimates than global models. For example, boxed sheep meat emissions measured in this project, 15.1 kg CO₂-e/kg, were significantly lower than the FAO’s 2024 estimate of 32.4 kg CO₂-e/kg.
Integrity Ag Chief Scientist Dr Stephen Wiedemann said, “This work represents significant progress for industry, providing the product-specific emissions results needed for benchmarking value chains, complementing the national inventories' net emission accounting methodology."
"We are pleased to have developed the capability to attribute land use emissions as required under SBTi’s FLAG target reporting, as well as enabling a more frequent reporting period to communicate industries' emissions reduction progress.”
AWI Program Manager Eco Credentials Angus Ireland said, “The importance of accounting for both sides of environmental impact cannot be overstated. This project has not only improved the accuracy of GHG emission reporting for wool but also evidences the significant GHG removals arising from regeneration of forest woodlands in Australia’s sheep zones.”
“AWI will now progress the incorporation of this improved data in the ‘Wool LCA Dataset’, which it makes freely available to the market, as well as emerging textile rating schemes in France and Europe. It will provide the evidence base needed to promote reporting of not only emissions in such schemes but also the removals – thereby more accurately reflecting the complete picture of sheep farm impacts.”
Matthew said, "The improved reporting calculations and methods will support the red meat processing industry, with new regulations under the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) requiring processors to report their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions over the coming years."
For more information about the new framework, visit the AMPC website: https://ampc.com.au/research-development/sustainability/sustainability-uplift-report/
For more information
Contact Acting Head of Communications and Media – Caitlin Morris-Fredericks on 0476 110 675 or email c.morris@ampc.com.au
About the Australian Meat Processor Corporation
The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) is the research and development corporation for the red meat processing industry in Australia. As the research, development and marketing service provider for Australian processors, AMPC runs programs of activity that are funded by processor levy payers, private contributions and the Australian Government. AMPC’s mission is to drive world-class innovation, adoption and strategic policy development through genuine partnerships built on trust.