National salad chain Sweetgreen said it will add steak to its menu, but reassured its environmentally conscious customers that it will offset its carbon footprint by putting in place strategies to reduce emissions, according to a report.
The restaurant chain, founded in 2007, that offers a variety of salads and bowls said it will become carbon neutral by 2027 despite the announcement Tuesday that it will include a caramelized garlic steak protein plate to its menu.
Beef production is the largest agricultural source of greenhouse gases globally and emits huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere, the Associated Press reported.
Along with purchasing carbon offsets to combat climate change, the company said it will use regenerative farming.
A spokesperson for Sweetgreen referred the wire service to its menu expansion details.
"Studies bring to light the environmental benefits of pasture-raised cows where grazing promotes enhanced land management, carbon sequestration, and contributes to soil health, making the land more resilient to flooding and drought while boosting nutrient content and flavor," co-founder Nicolas Jammet wrote on the site.
It employs a method of farming and ranching that seeks to maintain healthy soil, Jason Rowntree, co-director of the Michigan State University Center for Regenerative Agriculture, told the AP.
The practice involves "minimizing disturbance, keeping ground covered, improving biodiversity below and above ground through adding animals to your cropping systems or enhancing biology below ground," he said.
