Plant-Based Milk’s Rise to Popularity

Over the past decade, plant-based milk seems to be getting more and more popular. I remember when oat milk raised in popularity a couple of years ago, there was a shortage at Starbucks. It was close to impossible to find oat milk anywhere. There were other plant-based milk options at the time, but oat milk was the one that stuck out.

People have made the switch from dairy milk to plant-based milk for many reasons: taste, sustainability, and health reasons. Almond milk is by far the most popular milk alternative. Plant-based milk’s popularity was at an all-time high in 2020 sales in the US. The total sales for that year were between $2.5 billion and $3 billion. Almond milk sales had the highest amount of $1.54 billion, but oat milk had the biggest increase in sales. Oat milk sales went up by 37% with a total of $512 million. Other plant-based milk had an 18% increase in sales making $91 million. Overall, dairy milk made more than its plant-based competition making $40.5 billion in the US.

Cow’s Milk Impact on the Environment

Compared to plant-based milk, dairy milk has a significantly larger impact on the environment. To create one liter of milk, 8.95 square miles of land are used. Making one liter of cow milk creates 3.15 kilograms of greenhouse gas. None of the alternative kinds of milk reach half of dairy milk’s emissions. The amount of freshwater used to make one liter of milk is 628.2 liters.

Plant-Based Milk’s Impact on the Environment

None of the plant-based kinds of milk’s land usage per liter comes close to dairy milk’s. None of them are over a square mile. Oat milk has the highest land usage of 0.76 miles², soy milk uses 0.66 miles², almond milk uses 0.5 miles², and rice milk uses the least amount with only 0.34 miles². All of the alternative kinds of milk have very similar greenhouse emissions. Rice milk produces 1.18 kg per liter, soy milk produces, 0.98 kg, oat milk produces 0.9 kilograms, and almond milk produces 0.7 kilograms.

There is a big difference in freshwater usage per liter with certain types of milk alternatives. Almond milk uses the most by a long shot, but rice milk is the closest with about 100 liters less. The total amount of freshwater almond milk uses is 371.46 liters and rice milk follows with 269.81 liters. Oat and soy milk don’t come close to the other kinds of milk with their water usage. Oat milk only requires 48.24 liters and soy milk requires 27.8 liters.

Health Comparisons  

The main health reason people consume plant-based milk instead of cow milk is because of lactose. Other than having no lactose, plant-based milk provides several other health benefits. Cow milk has more fat compared to most milk alternatives. On average, plant-based milk has 25-63% less fat. The majority of the types of plant-based milk have less sugar in it, except for oat milk. 

On the other hand, there are some health benefits to drinking dairy milk instead of a milk alternative. Dairy milk has more protein, potassium, and calcium compared to plant-based milk. One cup of cow milk contains 25% of recommended calcium intake and 10% of recommended potassium. It is also better for kids and toddlers because it has more vitamin D, protein, and calcium to help kids’ growth and development.

Comparing Cost

Typically when you order coffee somewhere, you have to pay extra for plant-based milk. At Starbucks, they charge 70¢ to add any of the milk alternative options they have there to your drink. In the UK, Starbucks there are removing the extra fee for milk alternatives. Soy milk is the cheapest type of plant-based milk. On average soy milk cost $1-3 per half gallon. The reason it is the most affordable non-dairy milk is that it has been in the market for it and its newness has worn off. Oat milk, on the other hand, costs more to buy because it’s a newer product and its popularity is at its prime. Dairy milk on average cost about $4.36 per gallon.

My Recommendation

There are many factors you need to consider when you are choosing which milk to buy: cost, impact on the environment, and health benefits. If you are wanting milk that has the lowest impact on the environment, I would go with either oat or soy milk since they have low land and water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. The only negative part about buying oat milk is that it is one of the more expensive kinds of milk. If you are looking for cheap milk with a low impact on the environment, soy milk is your best option.

–Posted by Hope