Which Plant-Based Milk Is the Most Environmentally Friendly?

For years, consumers have been wondering which plant-based milk they should be using. Of course, taste is a consideration, but for many, the real question is which option is the most environmentally friendly. It can be a confusing territory to navigate. Doubly confusing when you consider that there is no single consensus on what makes a plant-milk environmentally friendly. However, luckily Sentient Media recently broke down the various environmental impacts of different dairy milk alternatives. 

Okay, Is Cows’ Milk Really That Bad?

Luckily, this question has an easy answer. Yes, cows’ milk is bad from both an ethical and environmental perspective. Like other mammals, cows produce milk for their young. So, for humans to have continuous access to their milk, dairy cows are repeatedly impregnated through artificial insemination. 

Once dairy cows’ calves are born, they are quickly taken away from their mothers. Mother cows mourn this separation, often crying out for their stolen calves. The calves themselves are often kept confined in isolation and fed milk replacer instead of their mother’s milk. Dairy cows are also not protected from slaughter. Once a dairy cow’s milk production declines, they are slaughtered. Indeed, Animal rights organization Animal Equality states that 20 percent of the beef sold in stores is actually from dairy cows. 

Cows’ milk is also incredibly environmentally damaging. It is much worse than any plant-based alternative. Cows’ milk emits more greenhouse gasses, uses more land, and uses more water than any alternative milk. Other animal milk, such as goat’s milk and sheep’s milk, are also much worse for the environment than any plant-based milk. These alternative animal dairy sources also have many of the same ethical issues as cows’ milk.

Okay, I’m Convinced. So, Which Plant-Based Milk Is Best?

This is a tricky question to answer. While all plant-based milks are more environmentally friendly than animal milk, it is difficult to assess which one is best for the environment. This is because some plant-based milks may perform better on certain metrics, but less well on others. For example, the production of almond milk emits the fewest greenhouse gasses. However, almonds are a notoriously thirsty crop. This means that producing almond milk uses lots of water. This is particularly important since almonds are often grown in California, which experiences frequent droughts and groundwater depletion. 

However, there are a few plant-based milks that stand out from the rest. When various environmental impacts are weighed, soy, oat, rice, pea, hemp, and hazelnut milk appear to be the most sustainable choices. 

Soy Milk

Soy milk is probably the most environmentally friendly plant-based milk. This is because it compares favorably to other plant-based milks when greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water use are considered. 

Oat Milk

Oat milk has risen in popularity over the past few years. Many people are fans of its creamy texture and neutral flavor. Luckily, oat milk is also pretty good for the planet! Although it uses more water than soy milk, it emits similar amounts of greenhouse gasses and uses comparable amounts of land. 

Rice Milk

Rice milk scores highly in terms of land use. However, it is a water-intensive crop and also emits more greenhouse gasses than soy or oat milk. Though if rice milk is your jam, remember that it is still much more environmentally friendly than animal milk!

Pea Milk

Although pea milk is still being studied, it appears to be an environmentally friendly choice for conscientious consumers. This is because its water usage and greenhouse gas emissions are quite low. Additionally, many peas are considered “nitrogen-fixing” crops. This means that they can help replenish soil that has been depleted of nitrogen, reducing the need for fertilizers. 

Hemp Milk

Hemp is a wonderful crop! Since almost every part of hemp plants can be used, it is easy to reduce waste. Additionally, hemp is great at pulling carbon from the air and can help fix soil health. Although producing hemp milk requires more water than either oat or soy milk, it is still an excellent and environmentally friendly choice.

Hazelnut Milk

Hazelnuts are also known as filberts, and grow on shrub-like trees. These trees do not require much land or water to grow. Additionally, they are pollinated by the wind rather than commercially kept honeybees. These trees can also help to sequester carbon.  

With so many amazing plant-based milks available, it is a wonder that anyone continues to drink cows’ milk! Milk from plants is better for both the environment and animal welfare. Additionally, it is an easy, cost-effective switch for anyone looking to reduce their impact on the planet. 

Sign this petition to Tell Major Grocery Stores to Carry More Plant-Based Options!

There’s Only One Green Planet Tee by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

Related Content: 

• 12 Homemade Non-Dairy Milks to Try During Veganuary 
• Victory! Oatly Finally Wins Court Battle to Keep “Milk” on Its Packaging 
• Cow’s Milk Now Leading Cause of Fatal Allergies in Children Under 16
• Soy Milk Must be a Free Option in Public Schools if We Truly Care About the Health of Our Students, Experts Say
• Woman Dies Due to Allergy After Eating “Vegan” Tiramisu That Contained Milk Products

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