15
Dec, 2021
milk

Dairy and Dairy-free Milks and Their Impacts on Our Planet (part 3)

In the first two parts of this blog series, we talk about the most popular dairy and dairy-free milk alternatives out there. In this part, we’ll delve deeper into the world of dairy-free milk and see their impact on mother Earth because as incredible as plant-based milk might sound, they are also not that environmentally friendly. So buckle up, and let’s learn more about the other types of milk alternative on the market and their impact on our planet. Remember, even though cow milk might be really bad for our world, it is delicious, and thousands of people can make a living because of them. So, you can’t judge the dairy industry that harshly, but you can take steps to consume less milk and opt for some of these alternatives. Try something new, and who knows, this might make you discover something that you love! 

Coconut Milk

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Compared to how dairy milk is created and produced, coconut milk is a relatively more sustainable alternative to the former. Coconuts don’t need a tremendous amount of water and pesticide to grow and are harvested by hand, and there is no need for machines to create more carbon emissions. The issue with coconuts is how they are planted and farmed; due to their global demand, mangroves and coastlines are destroyed to plant these trees. Let us explain for those of you who don’t know what monocrop is. Monoculture and monocrops are the large cultivation of a single crop on a vast area of land. They destroy vast amount of areas with the monocrops of coconuts. This is harmful to the biodiversity and to native plants, and the nutritious value of the soil. Coconut pickers in India and Indonesia are paid unfairly and exploited, so be sure that your coconut milk is Fair Trade certified.

Rice Milk

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Like most milk alternatives, rice milk has a lower impact on our environment compared t animal-made and produced milk. However, the environmental downside of rice production has been historically overlooked. Rice is by far the most produced and most polluting grain currently being grown on Earth. They are an extremely water-intensive crop with 50% of all diverted freshwater in Asia, and this is used to irrigate rice crops. They produce tremendous amounts of nitrous oxide and methane, which are huge contributors to greenhouse gases; they contribute to 12% of global methane emissions.

Oat milk

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It is deemed as the most sustainable option out of all dairy and dairy-free milks out there. Growing and producing oats require far less water and land than other milks on this list and blog series; when compared to almond, oars require 6 times less water to grow. They also produce very little greenhouse gas emissions. Oats are also grown in colder areas like the States and Canada; they are part of the world where large-scale deforestation is not an issue. To this point, there have been no major environmental consequences that could arise with the growth of the oat milk industry.

Pea Milk

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It is considered as an environmentally-friendly source of protein, especially for people who don’t eat meat like vegans and vegetarians. Most people don’t know that it is also a great and sustainable dairy alternative and is comparable to soy milk because it produces low greenhouse gas emissions and requires minimal pesticide to grow. Peas like oats are grown in colder areas where drought isn’t a real issue, and they don’t infringe on local water storage.

Remember, even though you might think you aren’t making an impact on Earth, it is one same step for humankind, but it is a giant step for the preservation of mother nature. If you want to read more about milk and dairy-free alternatives, then click here and read part two. Sound off in the comments section below and tell us your favorite milk alternative.

7
Dec, 2021
milk

Dairy and Dairy-free Milks and Their Impacts on Our Planet (part 2)

In part one of this blog series, we talk about the most popular dairy and dairy-free milk alternatives out there. In this part, we’ll delve deeper into the world of dairy-free milk and see their impact on mother Earth because as great as plant-based milk might sound, they are also not that environmentally friendly. So buckle up, and let’s learn more about the other types of milk alternative on the market and their impact on our planet. Remember, even though cow milk might be really bad for our world, it is delicious, and thousands of people can make a living because of them. So, you can’t judge the dairy industry that harshly, but you can take steps to consume less milk and opt for some of these alternatives. Try something new, and who knows, this might make you discover something that you love!

Goat milk

milk

Okay, this might sound weird to you, but a lot of cheeses out there are made of goat milk, and it is considered a delicacy in parts of the world. Unfortunately, even though it tastes good and goat cheese is to die for, goats and cows have the same impact on the environment and have a destructive habitat. They take as much water as cows to feed and produce as much if not more carbon emissions as their brethren. The latter is because it takes more time and money to transport goat and their milk which ups their carbon emission. However, because of their size, they take less space than their counterparts, which is a good thing. However, when compared to cow’s milk, goat’s milk does have some advantages; they produce less manure which creates a low threat to nearby water sources. The goat industry is much smaller than the milk industry.

Hemp Milk

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This one has a niche market and is a well-liked dairy alternative by some. A lot of foragers and vegans out there have a soft spot for hemp milk because it is arguable the best and most eco-friendly milk on the market. It may not be as widely used as other plant-based milk, but we shouldn’t overlook this gem. According to some scientists, hemp can and can hinder climate change because they absorb an exceptional amount of carbon and their by-products are also 100% biodegradable. Hemp trees can sequester 4 times more carbon than your average tree; on top of that, they don’t require a tremendous amount of water to grow and even enrich the soil they are on. Hemp can be bio if you want them to because they don’t require any pesticide to grow, and they can be grown in a very small area. This eliminates the need for monoculture to create plant-based milk as it can be grown alongside other plants and vegetables.

Hazelnut milk

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Hazelnuts aren’t only used to make our favorite chocolate spread but can also be used to create a pretty delicious dairy-free milk if you ask me. Hazelnut milk is slowly gaining traction in the plant-based milk industry and is arguably the best nut to create milk because it doesn’t require as much water as almonds. They not only require minimum water to grow but are also drought-resistant and, just like hemp, sequester a massive amount of carbon. You also don’t need commercial honeybees to pollinate them as they are wind-pollinated. The lower greenhouse carbon emission rather than contributes to it is said to be one of the plants that absorbs the most carbon. They also reduce soil erosion and may even prevent surface runoff that could pollute nearby water sources.

Remember, even though you might think you aren’t making an impact on Earth, it is one same step for humankind, but it is a giant step for the preservation of mother nature. Sound off in the comments section below and tell us your favorite milk alternative.