The alternative milk market has skyrocketed. The global alternative milk market is now valued at over twenty billion dollars and is expected to grow at a rate of 12.5% per year in the next 5 years. Needless to say the era of “got milk?” has come to an end. With the market growing so fast, and the increasing rate of new alternative dairy products being released, it can be hard to navigate which ones are indeed good for health. Additionally, the environmental impacts of these alternatives are still unknown. But by breaking down the health and environmental effects of plan alternatives, we can rank the best and worst alternative milk products. 

Plant Alternative list (Worst to Best) 

Coconut Milk: Coconut milk has been a staple part of diets in many South and East Asian countries. Coconut milk has gained popularity recently in the West where it is seen as a healthy and environmentally alternative to dairy. But due to this increased demand, coconut farming has led to the mass exploitation of farmland and workers along with the destruction of rainforests. This is especially prevalent in countries in more humid climates such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. 

Almond Milk: Almond milk became one of the first popular dairy alternatives in the US. While the impact of almond farming is significantly less than dairy, it still has a major impact on the agriculture and drought conditions of California. The central valley of California is one of the biggest producers of almonds in the world. Almonds also require the most water than any other milk alternative, which makes for a perfect storm for increased drought conditions in California. Additionally, mass almond farming has put a significant burden on the beekeeping industry in the US. About 70% of the commercial bees in the US are used to pollinate almonds which have caused a significant decline in their populations. 

Hemp Milk: Hemp milk has been one of the up-and-coming stars in the milk alternative market. Hemp is only grown in small quantities for milk production, so the environmental impact of mass production is still unknown. Hemp milk is also one of the more expensive milk alternatives to produce which reduces its sustainability and accessibility as well. 

Soy Milk: According to a study done at Oxford, soy milk was found to be one of the best milk alternatives due to its low environmental impact. Soy milk was the first big plant alternative that was accessible to most people. Large amounts of soybeans are grown around the world mostly to feed livestock. This agriculture has significantly affected rainforests and the exploitation of workers, but many soymilk companies prohibit the use of these soybeans for milk production due to these impacts. 

Oat Milk: Oatmilk was found to be another one of the best milk alternatives due to its low environmental impact and great taste. Oatmilk has seen the biggest growth in sales in the US in the last two years compared to any other milk alternative. Oat is also grown in significant amounts for cattle feed, which similar to soy milk would reduce the need to open up new farmland for oat production. Additionally, oat agriculture has a significantly less environmental impact than other plant alternatives. Oats are grown in colder climates, so they do not pose the same dangers of deforestation of rainforests as soy and coconut milk. Oat milk is also one of the most healthy and nutritious milk alternatives. The only significant challenge in oat milk comes from the use of many pesticides since most oats are mass-produced and grown in monocultures. 

Conclusion 

As the alternative daily market continues to grow, we must be proactive and aware of the impact these industries are having on the planet. Climate change is already starting to have a major impact on our everyday lives, and we must take action in any way we can.