Beyond Burger Named First Climate Solution Plant-Based Meat

Your burger can now fight climate change with every bite.

Beyond Meat's Beyond Burger and Beyond Steak just earned a groundbreaking title: the first plant-based meat products to officially qualify as climate solutions. The Exponential Roadmap Initiative, a UN-backed program working with Oxford Net Zero, gave the products this designation after confirming they produce at least 50% fewer emissions than traditional beef options.

The numbers tell an even more impressive story. According to a third-party assessment published in 2025, Beyond Burger uses 97% less land, requires 92% less water, and generates 88% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to an average U.S. beef patty.

"We believe in the power of plants to fuel our bodies and to heal the planet," said Ethan Brown, founder and CEO of Beyond Meat. The company has been chasing this mission since its founding in 2009, working to prove that plant-based options can taste great while helping the environment.

The qualification isn't just a feel-good label. To earn it, products must demonstrate they'll contribute to real emission reductions at a global level and support the world's goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. When people choose these products over conventional beef, they're actively accelerating progress toward a net zero economy.

Johan Falk, CEO of the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, emphasized why this matters. "We created the climate solutions framework to highlight products like these and remind companies that exponential growth of qualifying products is just as important as decarbonization of higher emitting alternatives," he explained.

The Ripple Effect

This recognition shows how everyday food choices create waves of positive change. Every Beyond Burger or Beyond Steak purchased means less land cleared for cattle, less water consumed, and fewer emissions heating our planet. It transforms a simple lunch decision into a climate action.

The qualification currently applies to U.S. products and remains valid through February 2027, giving consumers nearly two years of certified climate-friendly eating. Beyond Meat also holds Clean Label Project Certification, making it the first plant-based meat brand to achieve both environmental and transparency benchmarks.

Small choices at the grocery store and drive-through are adding up to something much bigger than dinner.