There weren’t many nondairy milk alternatives when I initially became plant-based. That has now changed, but with so much plant milk available today, it is vital to address the environmental implications.
For instance, just because the dairy sector has a terrible reputation for being resource-intensive does not mean that plant-based milk has no environmental effect (1, 2, 3).
In my hunt for the most environmentally friendly plant milk, I discovered that various varieties had varied environmental footprints regarding natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions.
This article investigates the environmental effects of various plant milk and offers suggestions for selecting the most environmentally friendly ones.
Evaluating the environmental impacts of nondairy milk
When analyzing the ecological effect of plant milk, it is critical to understand which resources distinct plants require to thrive and the imprint that they may leave.
Recent research that examined data from over 10,000 farms globally to assess the environmental implications of dairy, soy, almond, oat, and rice milk revealed that any nondairy milk is healthier for the earth than dairy milk (4).
In reality, dairy products may emit three times the amount of greenhouse gases as plant milk and require nine times the amount of land to produce. Unlike dairy milk, plant milk does not necessitate using natural resources to grow animals (4).
Plants used to produce commercial milk, on the other hand, demand finite resources like land and water. Their manufacture also generates greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
Plants used to produce commercial milk, on the other hand, demand limited resources such as land and water. Their manufacture also contributes to global warming by emitting greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide (5).
Nonetheless, all plant-based milk has benefits and drawbacks. Choosing the best one may be determined by determining which environmental aspects are most relevant to you and investigating the available data.
There is currently no scientifically reliable method for ranking the environmental implications of plant milk. If you’re concerned about water consumption, avoid almond and rice milk and soy and oat milk if you’re worried about land use.
Hemp, pea, and coconut milk may be preferable.
Soy milk
Soy, like beef, is a significant cause of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest owing to the quantity of land necessary to supply demand. According to one research, a 4-cup (1-liter) serving of soy milk takes around 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of land every year (4).
However, the vast majority of soy crops are cultivated to feed cattle and create biofuel rather than to manufacture soy milk for human use. According to some sources, a relatively tiny fraction of worldwide soy is farmed for direct human consumption (6).
The United States accounts for 35% of world soy output. The good news is that the Amazon Soy Moratorium, a grain merchants’ agreement not to buy soy cultivated on freshly deforested land, has resulted in a reduction in deforestation (7, 8, 9).
Some soy milk firms, such as Silk, claim to utilize solely organic soybeans cultivated in the United States, removing the Amazon deforestation concern.
While soy requires a lot of space, it also has other advantages. Soy crops, like other legumes, help fix nitrogen in the soil, reducing the demand for nitrogen fertilizers (10).
Almond milk
Almond milk is one of the most water-intensive plant milk, necessitating far more water than soy or oat milk. According to one research supported by the California Almond Board, it takes 3.2 gallons (12.1 liters) of water to grow a single California almond (11).
Another study analyzed the water footprint of nine crops in Australia, and almonds were by far the greatest – more than apples, grapes, tomatoes, oranges, peaches, cherries, potatoes, and carrots (12).
Almonds consumed so much water that the authors advised against growing them (12).
Furthermore, almost 80% of the world’s almonds are farmed in California, which has endured severe droughts recently, further jeopardizing water resources (13).
According to research, nuts demand fewer land resources than oatmeal but more than rice (4).
Hemp milk
The hemp plant is environmentally benign since it is high yielding, and all its components may be used. Its leaves and seeds manufacture oil and milk, while its stalks and roots are used to make construction materials, textile fibers, hemp paper, and polymers (14, 15).
Furthermore, hemp is inherently resistant to illnesses and produces a shade, which aids in weed control. Because of these features, growing hemp requires fewer herbicides and insecticides. Their extensive roots may also benefit the soil in which they thrive (15).
Hemp milk provides some health advantages.
Rice milk
Rice milk emits a significant quantity of greenhouse gases. Rice fields contain bacteria that generate considerable amounts of methane when flooded, a standard procedure for rice cultivation (16, 17, 18).
Rice, unsurprisingly, takes a lot of water to produce. Conversely, rice consumes less land than soy, oats, and almonds (4).
Furthermore, rice is known to have high arsenic levels, which may damage neighboring rivers (19).
Oat milk
Oats are frequently planted as large-scale monoculture crops, which means they are the sole crop grown on the same land periodically.
Monocultures diminish insect biodiversity in the surrounding ecosystem, leading to increased pests and, eventually, pesticide use. Monocultures may also deplete soil nutrients, decreasing crop fertility (20, 21).
Furthermore, glyphosate-based herbicides are routinely used to cultivate oats, which may increase the establishment and spread of glyphosate-resistant diseases that harm plants, insects, and mammals (22).
Nonetheless, according to Oatly, a Swedish oat milk brand, its techniques result in 80% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, 60% less energy, and 80% less land usage than dairy milk (23).
Keep in mind that industry-funded research frequently has limiting variables and biases.
According to another study, oats demand more land resources than soy, almond, and rice. Regarding water consumption, oats require substantially less than almonds and rice and slightly more than soy (4).
Pea milk
Peas are native to locations with high rainfall, which implies they use less current water resources to develop.
Furthermore, pea crops require less irrigation and are rotated by farmers. This aids in the natural nitrogen fixation in the soil and reduces the need for fertilizer (8, 25).
Furthermore, unlike soybeans, peas are not presently genetically engineered to be herbicide resistant (26).
Ripple says that its pea milk emits 86% less greenhouse gas emissions than almond milk (27).
Coconut milk
There is little information available on the direct environmental effects of coconut milk. However, some study shows that coconut milk produces around half of soy milk’s greenhouse gas emissions (28).
Coconut plants produce with relatively little water. They, like other trees, are natural carbon sinks, meaning they take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and create oxygen. This component may assist in balancing out the overall carbon footprint of coconut milk (29).
However, coconuts are cultivated in tropical locations, and there is some fear that growing demand would result in the displacement of local species and biodiversity loss.
On the other hand, some studies suggest that the coconut may help enhance biodiversity and is not a hazard to ecosystems (30, 31).
Sustainable plant milk companies
Some plant milk producers acknowledge that there is always the potential for improvement in terms of environmental effects. Companies that prioritize sustainability include the ones listed below.
JOI
Instead of utilizing water resources to generate packaged milk, this firm, whose name stands for “Just One Ingredient,” produces plant milk concentrates. Add water and mix at home.
JOI’s goods are packaged in 100% recyclable materials. Throughout its supply chain, the organization aims for zero waste (32).
Shop for JOI plant milk concentrate online.
Numark
This firm is dedicated to lowering the carbon impact and water waste associated with packed plant milk.
The Numark Home machine operates the same way as a coffee maker. Fill the provided bottle halfway with water and add the company’s packaged concentrate for milk, lattes, or protein shakes.
Numark also has kiosks in certain grocery shops around the eastern United States. These may be used to prepare fresh milk to take home (33).
How to make plant milk at home
Making your plant milk provides you greater control over the ingredients and may be more environmentally friendly.
Here’s how to create 4 cups (945 mL) of homemade creamy oat milk.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (90 grams) of rolled oats
- 3 cups (710 mL) of water
- One pitted Medjool date
- 1/8 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Directions
In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine all of the above ingredients for 30-60 seconds, or until creamy. Make cautious not to over-blend the milk since this will turn it slimy.
To eliminate debris, strain the liquid twice through a fragile cloth into a big dish.
Refrigerate the strained milk in a sealable container, such as a sealed Mason jar, for 3-5 days.
You may use homemade plant milk similarly to store-bought plant milk. It’s delicious on its own but also in cereal, granola, smoothies, and baked goods batter.
Tips for choosing the most eco-friendly plant milk
When selecting plant milk based on its environmental effect, remember that hemp, pea, and coconut milk may have a lower impact than other types.
It may be great to try a variety to discover which you prefer and to support local businesses that encourage sustainability.
Furthermore, because plant milk varies greatly in nutritional makeup, experimenting with a few different varieties may help you gain multiple advantages. Almond milk, for example, contains much less protein than soy or pea milk, although specific milk is fortified with minerals such as vitamins D and B12.
Another crucial consideration is the packaging. To decrease waste, buy plant milk that comes in a recyclable container.
Purchasing organic plant milk may benefit the environment if it makes sense for your household. This helps to minimize pesticide and herbicide use, which affects soil, pollute water and air, and even contribute to biodiversity loss (34Trusted Source).
You may also manufacture milk at home from raw almonds, grains, or legumes, or you can support one of the newer plant-based milk concentrate firms.
If accessible, it might be beneficial to evaluate a brand’s lifetime evaluation of its goods, albeit a conflict of interest is conceivable.
The bottom line
According to research, plant milk has a far lower environmental impact than dairy milk. They are, nevertheless, not without consequence.
Choosing the most eco-friendly alternative may rely primarily on whatever variables are most important to you until further information is available. Plant milk affects water and land use and greenhouse gas emissions.
According to current research, almonds demand the most water, oats require the most land, and rice generates the most greenhouse emissions. Instead, you may try coconut, hemp, or pea milk.
Meanwhile, you may reduce your environmental effect by purchasing plant milk packed in recyclable materials or buying organic wherever feasible. You may even create plant milk at home if you want more control over the process.
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