Organic eggs worse for climate than caged eggs

A study published in Royal Society Open Science finds organic free-range egg production in the UK has nearly double the greenhouse gas emissions of caged systems, equivalent to 2.3 million tonnes of CO2. Organic systems also scored worse on water eutrophication, acidification, land use, and chicken mortality. Researchers note trade-offs between animal welfare and environmental impact, but data from 2009-2010 may not reflect recent developments.