British scientists: fight global warming by breastfeeding
Scientists at Imperial College London have reportedly calculated the harm to the planet from infant formula and advised moms to breastfeed longer and help save the environment.
“They found that, not only does it produce significant amounts of greenhouse gas due to the in creates for dairy cows, but it also depletes water and electricity, as well as producing waste,” the Telegraph notes.
Here’s the findings:
Britain’s breastfeeding rates are among the lowest in the world, however, with just 34 per cent of babies still receiving any breast milk.
The Imperial team calculated that breastfeeding for six months would save up between 95 and 153 KG of carbon dioxide per baby.
This means that if all mothers in the UK followed the guidelines it would equate to taking up to 77,500 cars of the road each year.
Cow milk also has a large water footprint, up to 4,700 litres per kilogram of powder.
It didn’t just stop there because breastfeeding will also reduce electrical use: powdered infant formula has to be heated to at least 70C during production, an energy use equivalent to charging 200 million smartphones a year.
Writing in the BMJ, the authors said: “The production of unnecessary infant and toddler formulas exacerbates environmental damage and should be a matter of increasing global concern.
“We need to acknowledge that our house is on fire and that the next generation requires us to act quickly to reduce carbon footprints in every sphere of life.
“Breastfeeding is a part of this jigsaw, and urgent investment is needed across the sector.”
Other costs to the environment include paper use, plastic waste, and transportation at multiple stages in the production, marketing, and sale of breastmilk substitutes.
