🥛 Ditching dairy, why plant based milk is the future

Did you know dairy cows are responsible for 4% of global greenhouse gasses? Car’s and transportation are responsible for 24% and livestock cows 14%. The majority is from the production and transport of animal feed, as well as the methane emissions (burps & farts) from cows themselves. A study published in the journal Science in 2018 found that producing a liter of dairy milk results in an average of 2.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) emissions, which is more than double the emissions of most plant-based milk alternatives. Needless to say, we are team alternative milk!

There are several plant-based milk options that are considered to be sustainable, including:

1. Soy Milk: Soy milk is a popular plant-based milk that has a relatively low environmental impact. Soybeans are a sustainable crop that requires less water and land to produce than dairy milk, and soy milk has a lower carbon footprint than many other plant-based milk options.

2. Oat Milk: Oat milk is another sustainable plant-based milk option. Oats are a low-impact crop that requires less water and land than many other grains, and oat milk has a lower carbon footprint than dairy milk.

3. Hemp Milk: Hemp milk is made from the seeds of the hemp plant, which is a sustainable crop that requires less water and pesticides than many other crops. Hemp milk has a similar nutritional profile to dairy milk and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Almond Milk: While almond milk has a relatively high water footprint, some brands are working to improve the sustainability of their production methods. For example, some almond milk producers are using techniques like micro-irrigation to reduce water usage.

5. Coconut Milk: Coconut milk is a popular plant-based milk that is often used in cooking and baking. While coconut farming can have environmental impacts, some coconut milk producers are working to use more sustainable methods, such as organic farming practices.

Now, for the important stuff: how they taste… My personal preference is soy and oat milk, although both nutritionally usually have a higher sugar content than dairy. Unsweetened versions are available. Nutritionally, the best is almond milk because of the protein from the nuts, but has a nutty flavor which can be good in coffee, but also a temperamental milk that tends to separate. Finding your alternative milk of choice is a fun journey, and the market seems to be ever-growing! There is also rice, cashew and pea milk! Happy experimenting!

The green scene this week 🌿

Spain is having a heat wave and the hottest ever April

Daimler (Mercedes owner) is setting up a $650 million charging network for commercial EV in North America 

Italian farmers are saving 🍋 with solar power

Recycled denim hit a turning point