Pork vs Tempeh
Fermented whole soybeans keep the fibre and protein of the bean while adding B vitamins. Pigs must be fed several kilograms of crops per kilogram of meat, which is where most of the footprint originates.
Per per kg of food
Greenhouse gaseskg CO₂e / kg
Pork
12.3
Tempeh
2.7
Land usem² / kg
Pork
17.4
Tempeh
3.5
Freshwater withdrawalL / kg
Pork
1796
Tempeh
250
Proteing / 100 g
Pork
27
Tempeh
19
Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science · Our World in Data · USDA FoodData Central
Verdict
Tempeh uses roughly a fifth of the emissions and a seventh of the water.
Questions people ask
Does tempeh contain B12?
Traditional tempeh sometimes carries trace B12 from bacterial co-cultures, but it is not a reliable source. Supplement regardless.