A Comparative Analysis of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives Part 2: Environmental Impacts

Human food production is the largest cause of global environmental changes. Environmental benefits could be achieved by replacing diets with a high amount animal-sourced foods more plant-based foods, due to their smaller impacts. The objective this study was assess impacts three most common milk alternatives (PBMAs)—oat, soy, and almond drink—in comparison conventional organic cow milk. Life cycle assessments (LCA) were calculated ReCiPe 2016 midpoint method, in addition single issue methods “Ecosystem damage potential” “Water scarcity index”. PBMAs lower impact values almost all 12 categories, oat drink soy being environmentally friendly. However, when LCA results expressed per energy protein content beverages, ranking terms impacts, changed greatly, approached those milk, particularly regard index. highlights importance considering broader range categories comparing