Free range is less abominably cruel to the chickens than entirely indoor production. But because its impacts are not contained, and because the feed requirements are higher, its environmental credentials tend to be even worse.
In both cases chickens are fed on maize, wheat, soya, palm oil kernel, fish meal etc. To understand the environmental cost of eggs and chicken meat, you must multiply the impacts of the feed production by the impacts of raising the chickens.
Free range does not = conscience-free
In all cases, the conclusion is inescapable: if you want to reduce the impacts of your diet, the answer is not to eat different kinds of meat or eggs, but to eat much less of either.
You can follow @GeorgeMonbiot.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled:

By continuing to use the site, you are consenting to the use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy to improve your experience.