Holly Spindler
With so many options, we look at what the most eco-friendly options are for milk.
From cow’s milk to various plant-based options like soy, oat, almond, rice, and even pea, the choices can be overwhelming.
But which one truly stands out as the most eco-friendly? Let’s dive into the environmental impacts of each to find out.
Is dairy production bad for the environment?
Cow’s milk is a dietary staple for many, and has long been heralded an essential part of a healthy, calcium-rich diet. Unfortunately, cow’s milk comes with significant environmental costs.
Global warming
The dairy industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane, which is produced by cows during digestion. In fact, around 27% of global methane emissions are due to animal agriculture, and cows are the biggest contributors.
Methane is not only the primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, which causes one million premature deaths every year, but also has accounted for roughly 30 percent of global warming since pre-industrial times.
Carbon dioxide is also a top contributor to global warming and a 2013 report from the US showed that every gallon of milk produced results in 17.6 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
Water usage and pollution
Not only does dairy farming require vast amounts of water for both the animals and crop irrigation, it also causes pollution to our precious US rivers and streams.
A single dairy cow can produce up to 100 pounds of manure every day. Multiply that by more than nine million dairy cows in the US, and you get a whole lot of manure. Some of the waste gets stored in large vats until it can be applied to crop fields as fertilizer. However, runoff from these fields from too much rain, as well as damaged vats that have not been properly maintained, can lead to this manure, containing nitrogen and phosphorus, leaking out to streams and rivers.
Deforestation
One of the key indicators of animal agriculture’s lack of sustainability is that animals eat more calories than is produced by their meat or milk. This means the land use for growing crops to feed animals is much more than if we grew crops directly to feed to ourselves. In fact, 83% of the world’s farmland is taken up with animal agriculture that only provides 18% of our calories.
The huge quantities of land needed for raising and grazing animals, plus growing crops, is a huge contributor to deforestation and habitat loss. A 2021 report on biodiversity loss stated that agriculture had been the identified threat to 86% of species at risk of extinction.
Does soy milk cause deforestation?
Soy milk has gained popularity as a dairy alternative, but its environmental impact is complex, with many blaming it for deforestation, especially in regions like the Amazon.
This claim has a nugget of truth. The growth in demand for the soy bean, where soy milk originates, has led to vast areas of forest and natural habitats being destroyed. Animals have lost their habitats, their protection, and often their food sources.
But is drinking soy milk the problem? It appears not.
Globally, only 7% of soy is used for products like soy milk, while 77% is used as feed for animals farmed for human consumption, including dairy cows. So, while growing soy beans does have an impact, the land use for producing our soy milk is negligible compared to the amount used for animal agriculture.
Is oat milk the most sustainable plant-based milk?
Oat milk is often heralded as a frontrunner in the quest for eco-friendly alternatives to dairy.
While oat milk has lower emissions compared to soy milk, it does need more land and water (although still significantly less than dairy milk).
Does almond milk use a lot of water to produce?
Almond milk’s popularity has soared in recent years, and in terms of emissions, almond trees are ideal because they produce oxygen like all trees. However, there have been environmental concerns raised particularly concerning water usage.
Almond trees are incredibly thirsty crops, requiring large quantities of water, especially in arid regions where they are predominantly grown. This heavy reliance on irrigation has raised concerns about water scarcity in these areas.
However, almond milk uses only 60% of the water amount of dairy production—so it is still a strong alternative.
Are other plant-based milks better for the environment?
Other plant-based alternatives like rice milk, coconut, and hemp milk offer viable options for those seeking dairy-free alternatives.
Each milk comes with its own pros and cons. For example, rice milk has higher CO2 emissions than other plant-based milks, but still far below the emissions caused by cow’s milk. Coconut farming has raised concerns about deforestation in some regions.
Choosing the best milk for the environment
Dairy production is still growing as the population continues to climb. In 2017, the global milk production was 909 million tons. But the dairy industry uses more water, causes more greenhouse gases and more river pollution, and requires more land use than any other milk. Its devastating impact on the environment is clear and we need to be looking to alternatives for a more sustainable future.
Plant-based milks have less of an environmental impact, not to mention that they don’t come with the welfare implications of dairy farming. So, if you’re looking to improve your environmental footprint, plant-based is the best way to go.
If you love your dairy, small changes can make a huge difference. There are lots of great alternatives to dairy products out there, from yogurts to chocolate, cheese to cream. Why not start by swapping out one thing at a time? You’ll be doing better for the planet and the animals.
