More and more Kiwis are choosing alternatives to dairy milk.
Taste is always important, but what kind is best for the planet?
Reporter Louise Ternouth and camera operator Marika Khabazi investigate:
When choosing your milk, it's good to consider the greenhouse gas emissions involved in producing its primary ingredient, the packaging and any transport involved, says health researcher Bruce Kidd from the University of Auckland.
Think about:
- What fertilisers are used
- How much land is taken up
- How much water is used
- If the packaging is recyclable
Milk packaging doesn't have to declare the contents' country of origin so it can be hard to gauge from the carton where its primary ingredient has come from, Kidd says.
Although the closer to New Zealand the better, even local dairy and goat milk local have higher emissions than plant-based milk.
Soy milk and oat milk, although often made from imported ingredients, have a much lower environmental impact because less land and water is used in their production, Kidd says.
It's a different story if the soy milk has come from South America, though, as that area is linked with deforestation.
As well as being relatively light on the land, oats have the added benefit of being a catch crop, he says. They help to reduce soil erosion, improve soil fertility and preserve biodiversity.
Almond milk – although still having less environmental impact than dairy milk – has the highest greenhouse gas emissions of plant-based milks due to the high water use in its production.
Related:
Southland oat milk producer receives $6m loan to build processing plant
