The United States is a major global producer of pork, accounting for 11% of the world’s total production (USDA, 2024). As a key part of the U.S. agriculture sector and economy, the pork industry has been involved in sustainability discussions and movements. Sustainability in animal agriculture involves balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship, focusing on health and the conservation of natural resources.
Regulations and Reporting
The U.S. pork industry is regulated on a federal level by the EPA, mainly in relation to the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Clean Air Act (CAA) (EPA, 2025). Specific regulations and reporting requirements are defined at state-level depending on the location, size, and operation. Large pork producers that fall under a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) classification are typically required to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This permit details farm operations and management practices to prevent water pollution (ECFR, 2025) (OFR, 2015).
Small and medium producers are encouraged by the EPA to apply a voluntary Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP). This USDA-defined plan helps reduce nutrient pollution and safeguard water sources through safe manure and wastewater management techniques (EPA, 2003).
Sustainability Initiatives and Trends
Voluntary sustainability initiatives, certifications, and labels are becoming more common among producers aiming to demonstrate a proactive commitment to sustainable growth. A notable example is the “We Care” initiative, launched by the National Pork Board (NPB) to advance sustainability in the industry. This initiative supports setting and meeting sustainability targets both for individual producers and the pork supply chain as a whole (USSA, 2023).
The NPB has also launched the Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant as part of the USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities program. This grant offers federal funding to help pork producers in select states adopt climate-smart practices (NPB, 2025).
Opportunities
As demand for sustainable products rises, innovation in pork production is essential. One key tool in enhancing sustainability is evaluating scope 3 emissions through life cycle assessments (LCAs). Measuring impacts on the supply chain level paints the product in a bigger picture. This process helps producers understand their environmental impact on a deeper level and discover more opportunities for sustainability and resource efficiency (LPELC, 2019).
How Opteinics Can Help
Opteinics provides a specialized pork module that enables quick and reliable calculation and analysis of supply chain emissions. With Opteinics, pork producers can measure, track, and compare their environmental footprint, gaining valuable insights for improving sustainability and cutting operational costs.
References:
Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Grant. Pork Checkoff. (n.d.). https://porkcheckoff.org/pork-production-management/sustainability/
Do we know the carbon footprint of the pork industry?. Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community. (2019, March 5).
Environmental Protection Agency. Title 40, part-122, section-122.42 (2021).
Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Agricultural Animal Production. EPA.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule 2015-24954 (80 FR 64064).
Office of water and Office of Wastewater Management, Producers’ Compliance Guide for CAFOs: Revised clean water act regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) (2003). Washington, D.C; United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management.
Pork – Production. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. (2024).
United States Sustainability Alliance. (2023). U.S. Pork – Global Leader in Sustainability and Animal Welfare.
