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

Annika Carlsson Kanyama, Björn Hedin and Cecilia Katzeff
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Annika Carlsson Kanyama: Ecoloop, Ringvägen 100, 118 60 Stockholm, Sweden
Björn Hedin: Department of Media Technology and Interaction Design, Royal Institute of Technology, Osquars backe 31, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
Cecilia Katzeff: Strategic Sustainability Studies, Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 10B, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-16

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.

Keywords: systematic literature review; plant-based dairy alternatives; milk; environmental impacts; greenhouse gas emissions; land use; water use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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