Thinking back, I went 90% vegan (except for cheese…seriously, check out the podcast) for several reasons: financial, ethical, environmental, and my health. I wouldn’t say it was a super conscious decision, despite all the reasons, until I made the switch from dairy milk to my first plant-based alternative: almond milk.
And then I was suddenly surrounded by friends and family who would tell me about how bad “nut juice” from almond trees is for the bees and the environment. That got me thinking, what if I’d just switched one bad for the environment milk for another? All for what, my morning latte?
From my first adventure with almond milk, I tried all the different types of milk: soy, cashew, rice, and a couple of combination beverages as well; none of them really worked for me. Until I found oat milk.
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Using Oats as an Alternative Milk
Sometimes I think we like to overcomplicate things a little bit with all the array of different choices we give ourselves, but maybe it’s just me. I’m pretty sure the list of popular plant-based milks grows daily and it can be confusing to figure out which one you should drink.
Each milk comes its own flavor profile, use-case, and (I’m guessing here) devout following.
After trying nearly all the alt milks, oat is the clear winner for me, mostly because it’s simple. See, I guess I am somewhat of an oat milk groupie. I love making it at home, it’s super simple and can be done before my brain wakes up. I love the flavor and texture it gives to some of our comfort foods that rely on that delicious creamy-goodness. Plus it’s naturally free of dairy, lactose, soy, nuts, and gluten…making it a great option for those with dietary restrictions, food sensitivities, and allergies.
Nutritional Value
Oat milk stands out among plant-based milks because it provides a rich, creamy texture, making it enjoyable to drink on its own, added to my morning latte, or even in an eat-your-feelings vegan mac-n-cheese. While it might not provide as much protein as cow’s milk or soy milk, it is a good source of what I like to call “sprinkling” in the protein, just a little bit throughout the day. And it also offers a good balance of carbohydrates and fiber.
Oats naturally contain many vitamins and minerals your body needs, including vitamin B, thiamin, folate, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and small amounts of iron. These nutrients are passed onto the milk when it’s made.
Market Popularity
Oat milk has been growing in popularity, along with many of the other non-traditional milks, not only for its taste and nutritional value, but also for its lower environmental impact. Since it’s non-dairy, the animal-lover in me (and many other vegetarian/vegans), automatically knows that plant based milks are better because they don’t require cows to be perpetually pregnant (YIKES).
In fact, in the last year (data from Jul-2023), oat milk sales in the United States are up 17.7% year-over-year, and account for $660.5 million USD. That’s a lot of dough.
It’s no surprise then that global sales of this milk alternative are on the rise, and many coffee shops have started offering it. For real, it used to be a struggle to get oat milk in my latte when I travelled for work; at least it’s becoming more mainstream. The overall trends towards plant-based diets and increased interest in environmentally friendly choices have helped fuel oat milk popularity.
By comparing oat milk to other milk alternatives, and having tried many of them, I can see that it stands out as a great option for those looking to reduce their environmental footprint while still enjoying a tasty and nutritious beverage.
Impact of Milk on the Environment
Bear with me…I know we’re basically making a U-Turn from Oat Milk Alley onto Dairy Drive. When thinking of the environmental impact of a food, it’s important to look at three main categories: water use, land use, and overall carbon footprint. And if we’re going to be looking at the impact of oat milk, we’ll need to compare it to dairy milk, the “gold standard” of milk, if you will.
Also, a quick little note, a lot of things are changing within farming practices, and even the overall climate plays a big factor in many of the statistics that are generally thrown out there. I’m not here to shit on anyone’s livelihood, or to spew meaningless statistics to make my point.
Dairy vs Plant-Based Milks
The fact is (speaking in broad generalizations) we use twice as much water, land, and carbon emissions to produce cow’s milk than a “milk” made from plants.
In general, I think you’d agree that water, land, and carbon emissions are necessary for the cows to eat, breathe, and live. But then additional water, land, and carbon emissions are needed to grow the food for the cows to eat.
So, (again, rough generalizations), if we cut out the “dairy” portion of the milk production cycle, we’re left with the water, land, and carbon emissions associated with growing the plants utilized to make milk substitutes and feed the cows, since both dairy and plant-based milks have the process and transportation components.
Dairy farming also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions in more ways than I had originally thought. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is released during digestion and manure decomposition–this is the fact I knew, and the one that is spouted in every vegetarian/vegan documentary I’ve ever seen. Additionally, carbon dioxide emissions come from the energy-intensive processes involved in dairy farming, such as feed production, transportation, and processing; these are the ones we discussed above and said were probably equal to the emissions of plant-based milks.
But did you think of dairy farming as also requiring energy to cooling and heating the barns? I did not. I mean, those beautiful, friendly animals deserve the best in life, but that’s not a factor I can negate in my rough generalizations–especially up in here chilly Western Pennsylvania.
Environmental Impact of Oat Milk
So after hearing about the bees (that’s it, no news. It was just that almond milk was effecting the bees) that my friends and family were very worried about, my brain went into overdrive. I started to worry about the environmental impact of all plant-based milks had on the environment, especially compared to dairy production. Since it’s my favorite, and the one I drink daily, I am most concerned with the milk I make and use at home: oat.
Dairy milk is generally considered the least sustainable “milk” in terms of the carbon dioxide emissions, land use, and water consumption associated with its production.
Water Use
One of the reasons I prefer oat milk over other plant-based alternatives is its relatively low water footprint. To produce a liter of oat milk, it requires significantly lower water needs compared to almond and dairy milks. This makes oat a more sustainable milk choice for our planet’s precious freshwater resources.
Even the most water hungry among the plant milks, almond milk, reaches only 60 percent of the water use estimated to be used in the production of dairy milk. That’s a 40% reduction in water use.
Oats are typically grown in regions with temperate climates and moderate rainfall, which can reduce the need for extensive irrigation and additional water use. And oats are often grown as a rain-fed crop, meaning they rely on natural rainfall rather than utilizing supplemental resources.
Land Use
When it comes to land use, oat milk production has a smaller impact compared to traditional dairy farming. Oats are a crop that requires less land and can be grown in cooler climates, making their cultivation more versatile. Additionally, practicing crop rotation with oats can result in improved soil health, preserving fertile land for future generations. So, every time I drink my oat milk latte, I feel a little bit better knowing that its production is contributing to more sustainable land use practices.
It’s on my list to start growing oats on our two-acres sometime in the future. I’d love nothing more than to be able to fully provide my own oats to make my milk, but it’s on the someday list because my brain has already spewed out way too many project ideas for the Boyfriend and myself to tackle.
Carbon Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions are (admittedly) a major concern for our environment, and I always keep an eye out for ways to reduce my carbon footprint; that part of why we grow most of our own food in our no-dig garden beds. Oat milk has a relatively low greenhouse gas emission compared to other milk types.
Based on the findings from Our World in Data, producing dairy milk generates almost three times more greenhouse gas emissions compared to ANY of the non-dairy milks.
As I sip my oat milk-based beverage (mid-afternoon mocha latte for a quick pick-me-up), I can feel good about the fact that it has a lesser water and land footprint, and contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to other milk options. Oat milk is an environmentally friendly choice that I am happy to make!
Final Thoughts on Oat Milk’s Impact on the Environment
While all plant-based milk tends to have lower environmental impacts than dairy milk, there are noticeable differences in water use, land utilization, and emissions contribution, even amongst them. While switching to alternative milks might seem like a small change (especially if you only drink, it can significantly lower our daily greenhouse gas emissions. Oat milk also requires much less land and water to produce compared to dairy milk, which makes it more environmentally friendly. It’s interesting to explore how this simple substitution in our diets can play a role in preserving the world around us.
Oat milk is a more environmentally-friendly way to indulge in the creature comforts we’ve all grown accustomed to. It has a lower impact on the environment, is easily added to recipes and meals, and provides many benefits to you since oat milkcontains multiple essential vitamins and nutrients. Oat milk is one of the most sustainable plant-based milk alternatives.
By opting for oat milk or other sustainable plant-based milk options, I can be sure I’m making a positive impact on the environment and preserving our precious resources, and maybe helping a cow or two in the process.
