Differences in Environmental Impact between Plant-Based Alternatives to Dairy and Dairy Products: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

A large body of research suggests a more plant-based diet, including a switch to plant-based alternatives to dairy, is needed for lowering human-induced climate change as well as land and water use. With the help of a systematic literature review, we analyzed data from 21 peer-reviewed articles about the differences in emissions and resources used between various plant-based alternatives to dairy and dairy products. Emissions included were greenhouse gases, acidifying, eutrophicating, and ozone-depleting substances, and resource use included water, energy, and land. The results are presented as the quotients of the ratios of plant-based alternatives to dairy and dairy products. The comparison shows that the plant-based dairy alternatives have lower, or much lower, impacts in almost all cases, with two exceptions: water use for almond drinks (several studies) and emissions of ozone-depleting substances for margarine (one study). There is a lack of data concerning impacts other than greenhouse gas emissions for plant-based cheese alternatives; and in general, emissions of greenhouse gases are more highly covered than other impacts. In the quest for a swift transition to a low carbon economy, however, there is already enough evidence to proceed with a dietary change involving switching dairy products to plant-based alternatives.

A comparison of the nutritional profile and nutrient density of commercially available plant-based and dairy yogurts in the United States

“…Within this category, plant-based yogurts have been positioned as a more sustainable alternative to dairy yogurt. Further, plant-based yogurt production emits fewer greenhouse gases and requires less land than the production of dairy yogurts ( 11 , 12 ). Increased environmental consciousness has been identified as a driver for adopting a plant-based diet ( 13 ).…”

Cross-sectional determinants of lactose-free food awareness and purchase among adult consumers

“…Plant-based diets were shown to be negatively associated with diet-related greenhouse gas emissions, cumulative energy demand, and land occupation indicators (Lacour et al ., 2018). Thus, compared to dairy milk, plant-based milk may be more advantageous in terms of environmental effects, yet comprehensive studies should be done and other dairy products should be examined as importing plant-based ones could be far less sustainable as well (Carlsson Kanyama et al ., 2021). Consequently, as the lactose-free market is growing rapidly, the assessment of the environmental impact of dairy lactose-free milk, regular milk, and plant-based derivatives should be considered to ensure sustainability.…”

Oat-based milk alternatives: the influence of physical and chemical properties on the sensory profile

“…Plant based milk alternatives (PBMAs) have substantially increased in popularity, now accounting for around 8% of total retail “milk” sales in the UK ( 1 ). A shift away from cow’s milk may be due allergies and intolerances ( 2 ), and concerns over climate change, land and water use ( 3 ). Oat milk alternatives (OMAs) have received particular interest due to unique potential health benefits ( 2 ), including the presence of beta glucans — a dietary fibre shown to be beneficial in preventing diabetes, as well as lowering total blood cholesterol, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases ( 4 , 5 ).…”