Non-dairy milk is taking over and its good for the planet

Alternative milk options are now commonplace in restaurants, cafes and grocery stores across most industrialized countries. Globally, the industry is estimated to reach over $30b in value by 2031.

Between 10% to 15% of all milk sold in the United States is now non-dairy milk. 41% of US households (or around 50 million homes) purchase plant-based milk, with 76% repeat buyers.

Apart from the taste, the appeal is due to the lower environmental impact. Let's break it down. 

Milk production can harm the environment in a number of ways: how much land and fresh water are used, the amount of nutrients that end up contaminating waterways (known as “eutrophication”), and of course greenhouse gas emissions. 

The level of impact depends on the kind of milk - from dairy to the variety of alternatives out there (oat, soy, almond, rice, among many others). In short though, dairy milk performs the most poorly in all areas of environmental impact. 

There isn't a clear winner among non-dairy options. The best option is contingent on the environmental area being considered. Rice and almond milk use the least land, while soy milk uses the least fresh water and minimizes eutrophication. Almond milk and oat milk generate the least amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

The data is clear, however, that dairy milk shouldn't be consumed if we're trying to reduce our environmental footprint.

What to keep an eye out for. 

The environmental impact of dairy milk production is hidden in other products. While dairy milk consumption has been decreasing for years now, the dairy industry has redirected milk into increased cheese production. 

Don’t forget about the animals.

Adoption of non-dairy milk is also essential because it can reduce an incredible amount of animal suffering. Like all mammals, cows only produce milk for their infant calves.

This means that dairy cows are repeatedly inseminated by force to ensure they continue to produce milk. Once they give birth, offspring are removed so there’s no competition for the milk produced. The calves are then raised to be dairy cows or slaughtered for veal, hides and other uses.

If this isn’t enough, dairy cows can have a range of medical issues because they’re bred to maximize yield, pumped full of growth hormones, and confined in industrial facilities for most of their existence.