Breastfeeding not only contributes to positive nutrition and health outcomes, but also to environmental sustainability by significantly reducing the environmental footprint associated with the production, packaging, distribution and consumption of infant formula. The environmental benefits of breastfeeding are multi-faceted.
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions:
- No industrial production: breastfeeding is a natural process that does not require intensive energy, whereas the production of infant formula involves a complex industrial process, from raising dairy cattle to processing, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
- No transportation: breast milk is hyper local food source delivered directly from mother to baby, eliminating the need for transportation, whereas infant formula requires a complex supply chain, which involves significant use of fossil fuels and further increases its carbon footprint.
- Less dairy farming: breastfeeding reduces the demand for dairy products, reducing the environmental impact associated with livestock farming. Most infant formulas are based on cow's milk, and the cattle production process is recognised as one of the industries that releases significant amount of methane gas into the atmosphere, a potent greenhouse gas. Beyond methane emissions, cattle production has a significant environmental impact through its substantial use of land and water, and the pollution it generates, contributing to several forms of environmental degradation.
2. Reduction of polluting waste
Zero packaging: breast milk is a naturally sterile food and perfectly packaged with no waste, whereas infant formula comes in tins, plastic containers and boxes, which often end up in landfill sites polluting the planet.
3. Conservation of natural resources
- Water and land conservation: the dairy industry requires large amounts of water at different stages, e.g. for the cows to drink, for growing plants to feed them, for milk processing and for cleaning. It also requires large tracts of land, which can lead to deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Breastfeeding, by reducing dependence on dairy products, helps to conserve these natural resources.
- No water needed for preparation: formula preparation requires clean water, which is a scarce resource in many parts of the world. In addition, sterilising bottles and other equipment further increases water and energy consumption. But breastfeeding does not require this kind of preparation.
- Reduced energy consumption: the infant formula industry is energy intensive, from production, processing, packaging, distribution and consumption, while breastfeeding requires a negligible amount of energy beyond the mother's normal dietary needs.
4. Increased resilience to the impacts of climate change
- Safe source of food: in areas affected by climate-related disasters, breastfeeding is a safe source of food for babies, as it does not depend on a fragile supply chain. This helps build climate resilience in vulnerable populations.
In essence, breastfeeding is a local and naturally renewable food source that requires minimal external resources to produce, distribute and consume, generating no waste and with a significantly smaller environmental footprint than commercial infant formula. It is important for the breastfeeding mother to have a good nutrition, including clean water, for her own health and to be able to provide optimal nutrition to her baby. Promoting and supporting breastfeeding is not only a public health imperative, but also a key strategy for a more environmentally aware and resilient society.