Americans eat a lot of eggs. In fact, some of the most recent data available suggests that on average, Americans consume about 250 eggs every year.[fn value=1][/fn] Clearly, that’s a lot of eggs, from a lot of chickens, requiring a lot of feed. When considering the environmental impact of producing all these eggs, and with Earth Day approaching, I couldn’t help but wonder: Is there a way to produce eggs that can actually benefit the environment?

Sadly, this doesn’t seem to be a major focus of much peer-reviewed literature. A brief look at the published literature shows that the conventional egg industry has funded much of this research and, surprise surprise, this research argues that the less hens are allowed to move, the more of the energy from their feed is turned into eggs. That concept is used to justify intensive egg-laying factory farms as being environmentally friendly. However, using that logic and concluding that the feed is the key driver in the sustainability of egg laying systems, it then stands to reason that how the feed was produced is the most critical aspect for how environmentally friendly egg production can be.

Research indicates that the vast majority of the “carbon footprint” from poultry is directly related to the energy used to produce the feed given to those animals.[fn value=2][/fn]Over and over again, studies show that organic farming uses substantially less fossil fuel per acre, largely a result of eliminating synthetic fertilizers, which are incredibly energy intensive to produce. [fn value=3][/fn] While some may argue that organic methods produce less food per acre, applying the latest science to organic farming has nearly eliminated the yield gap that existed between organic and conventional production methods, especially with soybeans, one of the primary crops used for chicken feed.[fn value=4][/fn] Based off of these observations we can conclude that organic eggs likely have a significantly smaller carbon footprint than conventional eggs.

The other aspect of organic eggs that sets them apart from conventional eggs is that the hens must be given outdoor access. As mentioned earlier, there is limited research on how free range or pasture raised egg systems influence the environment, so we’re kind of in the dark here, at least from a scientific perspective. To gain a different view, I reached out to the farmers who produce free range and pastured eggs for Natural Grocers to hear firsthand how letting their chickens outdoors has impacted the environment around their farms.

“When you let the chickens outside, the first thing you notice is that your feed consumption goes down. The reason for the drop in feed consumption is the chickens naturally pick up nutritious items outside,” one producer explained. So again, if feed consumption is a driving factor in sustainability, this is a great indication that when chickens are able to roam outside it makes for a more environmentally friendly product.

Other producers mentioned that the hens provide “erosion control (often land that is used for pasture is more hilly and would erode if tilled for row crop production)” and that they notice “a difference in the insect population when you have chickens on the yard.” The concept of using hens to control insects on the farm rather than using insecticides was echoed by several other producers who mentioned that the chickens provide “pest control by eating bugs.”

Thinking about the big picture is important when we make our daily food choices—we get to vote for the type of agriculture we support three times a day (or 5 times a day if you’re always hungry like me!). By choosing organic, free range, or pasture raised eggs, you are voting for a type of agriculture that is less reliant on chemicals and fossil fuels, and one that provides hens with a better quality of life. It really is a win-win situation. One more thing: To really minimize your environmental impact, be sure to buy eggs that are packaged in recyclable or compostable containers.