6533b854fe1ef96bd12ae057
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Assessing the carbon footprint across the supply chain: Cow milk vs soy drink
F. De LeoC.m. La FataYari VecchioBenedetta ColucciaPier Paolo MigliettaGiulio Paolo Agnusdeisubject
GHG emissionEnvironmental EngineeringClimate ChangeSupply chainDiet transitionAnimal-based beverageLife cycle approach.BeveragesCow milkAgricultural scienceSettore ING-IND/17 - Impianti Industriali MeccaniciAnimalsEnvironmental ChemistryProduction (economics)Life cycle approach GHG emissions Animal-based beverage Alternative plant-based beverage Diet transitionWaste Management and DisposalCarbon FootprintConsumption (economics)Food securitybusiness.industryfood and beveragesAlternative plant-based beverage Animal-based beverage Diet transition GHG emissions Life cycle approachPollutionDietMilkGreenhouse gasCarbon footprintCattleFemaleLivestockAlternative plant-based beverageBusinessdescription
Abstract Since livestock product consumption could have a significant effect on tackling climate change, in the few last years, there has been an increasing consumer demand for non-dairy alternatives. Despite plant-based beverages being considered crucial to foster the transition towards sustainable diet models, no studies have yet compared the level of emissions of plant-based beverages with animal-based ones. The present study aims at computing the carbon footprint of cow milk and that of soy drink and evaluating the carbon footprint results in the light of the substitutability of cow's milk with soy drink, analyzing the potential environmental, economic and nutritional trade-offs between the two products. Results highlight that, considering the environmental perspective, soy drink could be a valid substitute of cow milk: its production has a lower carbon footprint, allowing for the achievement of food security objectives. However, focusing on the economic and nutritional perspectives, the high average consumer price of soy drink is associated with an overall lower nutritional level. In order to reach the same nutritional value as 1 L of cow milk in terms of protein intake, the consumption of soy drink should be increased by 13%. Furthermore, soy drink consumption implies paying 66% more than for cow milk, when considering the same protein content.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-02-01 |