We’ve always believed that plant-based foods like Silk are about more than health—they’re good for the planet, too. So we decided to do a little research and see just how big a difference swapping out milk for Silk could make. It all began with two studies—a "life cycle assessment" and a “water footprint”—comparing the environmental impact of a half-gallon of Silk Original soymilk, almondmilk and coconutmilk to a typical half-gallon of dairy milk. We took a close look at lots of inputs, including agricultural inputs, water usage, greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of consumer use and disposal. Then we totaled it all up and got some pretty good news.1, 2
Silk for the Planet
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Tiptoeing on the Earth’s resources Sometimes less is definitely more. That’s why we got pretty excited when we compared Silk®’s environmental footprint to dairy milk’s. |
Sometimes less is definitely more. That’s why we got pretty excited when we compared Silk®’s environmental footprint to dairy milk’s.
Silk versus milk: Bring it on!
Silk’s a water-saving choice
Producing one carton of Silk uses 77% less water than producing one carton of typical dairy milk.1 When you compare the water used to farm our primary ingredients and produce Silk against what’s needed to grow feed, raise cows and produce milk, the picture’s pretty clear.
We’re lower on greenhouse gases
Producing a carton of Silk generates 47% fewer greenhouse gases (GHGs) than producing a carton of typical dairy milk.2 All food production practices—farming, manufacturing, storage and distribution—generate some degree of greenhouse gas emissions. While we’re always looking for ways to do even better, we’re happy to say that our plant-based foods are a clear winner versus dairy in overall GHG impact.
We’re always looking to do better
Sure, we’re proud about how we stack up against dairy milk. But we know that understanding that comparison is just the beginning. The real value comes in using that information to identify areas where we can do even better. For starters, we’re committed to energy and water offset programs that help mitigate our environmental impact by supporting renewable energy and water restoration efforts.
Looking to lighten your own load on the planet?
Swapping out milk for Silk in your everyday routines is one easy way to tread a little more gently on Mother Earth. And we’ve got plenty of other ideas, too. Start with the basics like recycling, and check out our Change the Course project. You’ll learn how your pledge to use less water can help restore the Colorado River.
1 Based on a 2010 water footprint assessment conducted by Silk using the Water Footprint Network methodology and the average annual consumption of Silk by US households.
2 Based on a Life Cycle Assessment conducted in 2011 by WhiteWave Foods Company and certified using the ISO 14040/44 framework for comparative declarations by an independent panel of LCA experts.