The #1 way to reduce your environmental impact when drinking milk based coffee drinks, is to not drink them! But becoming a fan of only espresso shots and black coffee might not be feasible for some, and we all enjoy an occasional sweet treat that comes from a milk based drink such as a latte or cappucino!
So lets dive in...
Let's be clear, any plant based milk is better than cow's milk. While a timeless classic and very tasty, dairy milk is far and away the worst for the environment due to the vast amount of land and resources needed to grow cows. In fact, a single glass of cow's milk results in three times more greenhouse gas emissions and nine times more land use compared to an equivalent glass of plan based milk! Let's not also forget the methane emitted from the belching and passing gas, pee-ew!
So, which milk should you choose when making your favorite milk based coffee drink? If you're focused on lowering greenhouse gas emissions, it might be almond milk as the almond trees are a larger consumer of C02 compared to other milks. But on the flip side, Almonds are very water intensive to grow, so they do not earn our #1 spot!
- Oat Milk: Oat milk is made from whole oats and is a great source of fiber. It has a creamy texture and a slightly sweet taste. It's also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Oat milk is considered environmentally friendly because it requires less water to produce compared to other milks and it generates less greenhouse gas emissions. Also, oats are a relatively easy crop to grow and they can be grown in many regions, which reduces the carbon footprint of transportation if you source locally!
- Almond Milk: Almond milk is made from whole almonds and is a good source of calcium and vitamin E. It has a nutty flavor and is a popular alternative to dairy milk. Almond milk has a relatively high water footprint due to the water-intensive nature of almond farming. Also, most of the almonds are grown in California, which can be problematic in terms of transportation and water usage. However, it's still considered more environmentally friendly than dairy milk.
- Soy Milk: Soy milk is made from whole soybeans and is a good source of protein. It has a creamy texture and a slightly sweet taste. It's also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Soy milk is considered environmentally friendly because it requires less water to produce compared to cow's milk and it generates less greenhouse gas emissions, however there is a caveat that holds soy milk back from a higher spot. Large areas of the rainforest have been clear cut to start soy farms. So, if you do like soy milk, be sure to look for one that is produced using Soy grown in the US or Canada! Also by doing this, it reduces the carbon footprint of transportation as you are buying local!
- Coconut Milk: Coconut milk is made from the meat of coconuts and is a good source of healthy fats. It has a creamy texture and a slightly sweet taste. It's also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Coconut milk is considered environmentally friendly because coconuts are grown in tropical climates and don't require irrigation. The downside to Coconut milk is there have been reports of forced labor to farm/harvest the coconuts and large swaths of the rainforest have been cleared to grow coconuts. Look for the Fair Trade and/or Rainforest Alliance certification to ensure you are not supporting these practices!
- Hemp Milk: Hemp milk is made from hemp seeds and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. It has a nutty flavor and is a popular alternative to dairy milk. Hemp milk is considered environmentally friendly because it requires less water to produce compared to cow's milk and it generates less greenhouse gas emissions. Also, hemp is a water-efficient crop and it is relatively easy to grow, which reduces waste.
- Rice Milk: Rice milk is made from brown rice and is a good source of carbohydrates. It has a slightly sweet taste and is a popular alternative to dairy milk. Rice milk is considered environmentally friendly because it requires less water to produce compared to cow's milk and it generates less greenhouse gas emissions. Also, rice can be grown in many regions, which reduces the carbon footprint of transportation if you source locally.
- Pea Milk: Pea milk is made from yellow peas and is a good source of protein. It has a creamy texture and a slightly sweet taste. It's also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Pea milk is considered environmentally friendly because it requires less water to produce compared to cow's milk and it generates less greenhouse gas emissions. Also, peas can be grown in many regions, which reduces the carbon footprint of transportation if you source locally.
- Cashew Milk: Cashew milk is made from cashews and is a good source of magnesium and zinc. It has a creamy texture and a slightly sweet taste. It's also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Cashew milk is considered environmentally friendly because it requires less water to produce compared to cow's milk and it generates less greenhouse gas emissions. However, cashews are typically grown in regions with high water scarcity, so its environmental impact will depend on the location and method of farming.
- Flax Milk: Flax milk is made from ground flax seeds and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. It has a nutty flavor and is a popular alternative to dairy milk. It's also one of the most sustainable alternative milks, as flax is a water-efficient crop.
- Dairy Milk: Dairy milk is made from cow's milk and is a good source of calcium and protein. It's one of the most popular types of milk, but it's not as environmentally friendly as many alternative milks. It requires a lot of land and water to produce, and it has a large carbon footprint. If lessening your environmental impact is the goal, avoid dairy milk at all cost!
If you haven't seen your alternative milk of choice in this guide, we really enjoyed the plethora of data and thoughtfulness provided in this guide: https://thebeet.com/youve-ditched-dairy-but-which-plant-based-milk-is-best-for-the-environment/