Advertisements have often tell people about the benefits of drinking milk. However, what they are not telling consumers is that producing dairy products leaves many undesirable carbon footprints in the environment.
According to The Food Medic by Dr. Hazel Wallace, meat and dairy production release more greenhouse gases than any other type of food production.
But some countries these days are making progress in reducing emissions related to dairy products like Northern Ireland, whose farmers have successfully reduced their carbon footprint by 30.7% per liter of milk since 1990. However, the overall production still increased by 67% within that time timeframe.
So, if dairy products from animals leave a lot of carbon footprint that could be bad for the environment, should people start buying plant-based milk instead? Below are other milk alternatives that consumers can buy to help the environment.
Almond Milk
Milk can be produced by almost any nuts, especially from almonds, hazelnut, and coconut. Their trees help absorb carbon emissions, and they are useful for woody biomass.
Almond milk is either made from whole almonds or almond butter with water. It can be added to coffee as an alternative to cow's milk, according to Healthline.
However, almond milk production also hurt the environment. The biggest of it is the high mortality of bees in the US. Experts believe that this could because of the pesticides used on the tree.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is made from the white milk of the brown coconut and water. It is commonly used in Southeast Asian and Indian cuisines.
According to Science Alert, the environmental performance of coconut is generally good because coconut trees need only a small amount of water and absorb carbon dioxide. But the increasing demand for coconut milk has likely put pressure on wildlife and the environment because of its industrial production that can destroy wildlife habitats.
Hazelnut Milk
Compared to almond and coconut, hazelnut offers a better option to the environment as its trees are cross-pollinated by the wind that carries its pollen to other plants and not by the bees.
Moreover, they also grow in regions with high rainfall which means they demand less water than almond trees. Although there is also an increasing demand for hazelnuts, its bush trees are yet subjected to intensive large-scale operations.
Soy Milk
Soy milk came from soybeans and made by either the beans or soy protein isolate that contains thickeners and vegetable oils to improve its consistency and taste. It is often used as an alternative to cow's milk perfect for coffee or on cereals.
Rice Milk
Rice milk is the least allergenic of all plant-based milk, perfect for those with allergies or intolerances to dairy, soy or nuts. It is made from milled white or brown rice added with water and contains thickeners to improve texture and taste.
Rice milk is associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions compared to other non-animal milk options because of the bacteria that produce methane found in the rice paddies. Plus, rice can also contain arsenic and fertilizers applied to the plant can pollute nearby waterways.
Oat Milk
Oat milk came from a mixture of oats and milk and often added with gums, oils, and salt to improve taste and texture. It is commonly used with cereals and smoothies because of its naturally sweet and mild flavor.
Oats are usually grown with pesticides known as glysophate that tarnishes the environmental credentials as it causes glysophate-resistant plant, animals, or pests to increase in population.
Check out more news and information on Milk on Science Times.
