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Climate change: Which vegan milk is best? | |
(1 day later) | |
The popularity of vegan foods continues to grow, with January seen as a traditional time to consider giving them a try. | The popularity of vegan foods continues to grow, with January seen as a traditional time to consider giving them a try. |
Milk alternatives, such as oat, soy, almond or coconut, are one area of interest, with sales rising in the UK. | Milk alternatives, such as oat, soy, almond or coconut, are one area of interest, with sales rising in the UK. |
A scientific study suggests the greenhouse gas emissions used in the production of plant-based milks are lower than for dairy milk. | A scientific study suggests the greenhouse gas emissions used in the production of plant-based milks are lower than for dairy milk. |
But which milk has the smallest impact on the planet? | But which milk has the smallest impact on the planet? |
Producing a glass of dairy milk results in almost three times the greenhouse gas emissions of any non-dairy milks, according to a University of Oxford study. | Producing a glass of dairy milk results in almost three times the greenhouse gas emissions of any non-dairy milks, according to a University of Oxford study. |
Looking at land use, the difference is starker still. | Looking at land use, the difference is starker still. |
Producing a glass of dairy milk every day for a year requires 650 sq m (7,000 sq ft) of land, the equivalent of two tennis courts and more than 10 times as much as the same amount of oat milk, according to this study. | Producing a glass of dairy milk every day for a year requires 650 sq m (7,000 sq ft) of land, the equivalent of two tennis courts and more than 10 times as much as the same amount of oat milk, according to this study. |
Almond milk requires more water to produce than soy or oat milk. A single glass requires 74 litres (130 pints of water) - more than a typical shower. Rice milk is also comparatively thirsty, requiring 54 litres of water per glass. | Almond milk requires more water to produce than soy or oat milk. A single glass requires 74 litres (130 pints of water) - more than a typical shower. Rice milk is also comparatively thirsty, requiring 54 litres of water per glass. |
However, it's worth noting that both almond and rice milk still require less water to produce than the typical glass of dairy milk. | However, it's worth noting that both almond and rice milk still require less water to produce than the typical glass of dairy milk. |
To find out the climate impact of what you eat and drink, choose from one of the 34 items in our calculator and pick how often you have it. | To find out the climate impact of what you eat and drink, choose from one of the 34 items in our calculator and pick how often you have it. |
All figures for each food in the calculator are global averages. Read more about it here. If you cannot view the food calculator, click to launch the interactive content. | All figures for each food in the calculator are global averages. Read more about it here. If you cannot view the food calculator, click to launch the interactive content. |
Design by Prina Shah, development by Felix Stephenson and Becky Rush. | Design by Prina Shah, development by Felix Stephenson and Becky Rush. |
Food production is responsible for a quarter of all human-produced greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming, according to the study on which the calculator is based, by Joseph Poore, of the University of Oxford. | |
The research found meat and other animal products were responsible for most food-related greenhouse gas emissions, despite providing only a fifth of the calories consumed. | The research found meat and other animal products were responsible for most food-related greenhouse gas emissions, despite providing only a fifth of the calories consumed. |
People tend to underestimate the greenhouse gas emissions from food, and dairy milk is no exception, according to research by Dr Adrian Camilleri, a psychologist at the University of Technology Sydney. | People tend to underestimate the greenhouse gas emissions from food, and dairy milk is no exception, according to research by Dr Adrian Camilleri, a psychologist at the University of Technology Sydney. |
"The greenhouse gas emissions from milk are about 30 times higher than what people estimate," he told BBC News. | "The greenhouse gas emissions from milk are about 30 times higher than what people estimate," he told BBC News. |
"I suspect that most consumers underestimate the greenhouse gas emissions saved by switching from dairy milk to plant-based milk such as soy milk." | "I suspect that most consumers underestimate the greenhouse gas emissions saved by switching from dairy milk to plant-based milk such as soy milk." |
Sales of so-called alternative milks are growing faster in the UK than sales of traditional milk, according to market researchers Mintel. | Sales of so-called alternative milks are growing faster in the UK than sales of traditional milk, according to market researchers Mintel. |
Searches for milk alternatives spike in January in the UK - especially soy milk and almond milk. | Searches for milk alternatives spike in January in the UK - especially soy milk and almond milk. |
Oat milk companies have recently entered the UK market, giving the drink a boost in search interest. No other country in the world has had higher search interest in oat milk than the UK in the past 12 months. | Oat milk companies have recently entered the UK market, giving the drink a boost in search interest. No other country in the world has had higher search interest in oat milk than the UK in the past 12 months. |
Last year, a record 50,000 people signed up to the Veganuary campaign to live without animal products for a month. But the growing popularity of veganism extends beyond January. Searches for veganism have doubled in the past year. | Last year, a record 50,000 people signed up to the Veganuary campaign to live without animal products for a month. But the growing popularity of veganism extends beyond January. Searches for veganism have doubled in the past year. |
So to what extent do plant-based diets' trendiness translate to actual numbers? | So to what extent do plant-based diets' trendiness translate to actual numbers? |
There are about 540,000 vegans in the UK, according to a 2016 survey by the Vegan Society, estimated to be up from 150,000 in 2006. | There are about 540,000 vegans in the UK, according to a 2016 survey by the Vegan Society, estimated to be up from 150,000 in 2006. |
Yet, some farming bodies are critical of the idea of Veganuary. | Yet, some farming bodies are critical of the idea of Veganuary. |
The campaign ignores the fact sheep farming in the UK "works very much in harmony with our environment, our landscapes, and our human ecology", according to the National Sheep Association. | The campaign ignores the fact sheep farming in the UK "works very much in harmony with our environment, our landscapes, and our human ecology", according to the National Sheep Association. |
Red meat from livestock raised on grass was different from intensive animal farming, said chief executive Phil Stocker. | Red meat from livestock raised on grass was different from intensive animal farming, said chief executive Phil Stocker. |
"Some people seem hell bent on portraying sheep as a global enemy - but in fact they are the ultimate in renewable technology and are an efficient form of productive land management that is planet-friendly," he added. | "Some people seem hell bent on portraying sheep as a global enemy - but in fact they are the ultimate in renewable technology and are an efficient form of productive land management that is planet-friendly," he added. |