Donna Walls, RN, BSN, CLC, ANLC
Breastfeeding is the kindest way to care for our babies and our Mother Earth. I never thought of a feeding method as kind or unkind until I started really looking at the impact of the feeding choice on the environment.
Here are some of the ways that breastfeeding shows kindness the planet:
Less water usage
No energy required
No packaging needed
Waste-free feeding
No transportation needed
No adding to pollution
No raw resources needed
Saves habitat and land used for milk production
The Green Feeding Climate Action Tool, developed by the Australian National University and Alive and Thrive, estimates carbon and water footprints associated with consumption of infant formula among infants under 6 months. Findings show that water used in production of infant formula is calculated to be 699 Liters to produce 1 kilogram of formula. Also, formula fed infants under 6 months result in annual global greenhouse gas emissions of between 5.9 and 7.5 billion kg CO2 (equivalent to the emissions of 2 million cars or what 318 million trees could absorb in 1 year). Please note that there are no carbon emissions from the production and transport of breastmilk.
The International Baby Food Network (IBFAN) and the Geneva Infant Feeding Association (GIFA), have highlighted the environmental costs of formula feeding with studies showing other environmental impacts of artificial milk feeding which include: chemical pollution from formula production and transportation, contamination of waterways causing algae overgrowth; soil contamination and loss of biodiversity. Please note that there is no chemical pollution or soil contamination from breastfeeding.
Formula packaging waste is estimated to be 86,000 tons of metal and 364,000 tons of paper ending up in landfills each year. Feeding supplies including bottles, nipples and storage bags also have a high negative impact. Please note that there is no packaging waste with breastfeeding.
Other studies demonstrate that if infants who were fed exclusively on pumped breastmilk stored in plastic breastmilk storage bags, an infant would ingest 0.61 to 0.89 mg of microplastics a day. Ingestion of microplastics disrupts the microbial balance in the gut microbiome which impacts the infant’s metabolism, immune system, brain function and physical growth.
When looking at breastfeeding as a Carbon Offset lactation advocates can support the “Global Nutrition Targets” for breastfeeding (Increasing exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months to 60% by 2030) would lead to far greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions than decarbonizing commercial milk formula manufacturing.” (Journal of Cleaner Production-2021) Please note that there is no need for decarbonizing in the production of breastmilk.
Climate change and increasingly frequent disasters, are exposing infants and young children to greater risks such as infectious disease, heat stress, and malnutrition due to food supply chain disruptions. It is well documented that breastfeeding strengthens the immune system to reduce the impacts of these stressors. Please note that there is no negative climate impact from breastfeeding.
International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) promotes the concept that adding 1 month of breastfeeding is equal to planting 300,000 trees.
In February of 2026 the FDA issued a statement- “Given that infants not fed on human breast milk rely primarily on formula as their primary nutritional source, they may experience a greater risk from environmental contaminants.“ The contaminants of particular concern for infants include: heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, plasticizers such as phthalates, ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS, microplastics, endocrine disrupting chemicals such as PCBs, dioxins, some pesticides, and flame retardants, and some food additives and dyes. Please note that there is no environmental contamination with microplastics, endocrine disruptors, “forever chemicals” or pesticides with breastfeeding.
Experts from Imperial College London stated “The production of unnecessary infant and toddler formulas exacerbates environmental damage and should be a matter of increasing global concern,” say the team behind a paper in the British Medical Journal.
A recent study by Cadwell et al. states “The environmental and Greenhouse Gas impact of powdered baby formula, and related hazards arising from climate change, can be a relevant factor for health care providers in their advice to families on infant feeding.”
So, as lactation advocates we can be proud of our role as we promote, protect and support a cleaner, safer more sustainable Mother earth through our breastfeeding support.
References
BMJ editorial. Support for breastfeeding is an environmental imperative. 2019; 367 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5646 (Published 02 October 2019 )Cite this as: BMJ 2019;367:l5646
Smith, JP et al. Estimating carbon and water footprints associated with commercial milk formula production and use: development and implications of the Green Feeding Climate Action Tool. June 13, 2024. Front Nutr. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1371036
Andresen, E. et al. Environmental Impact of Feeding with Infant Formula in Comparison with Breastfeeding. Int J Environ Res Public Health.May, 2022. PMCID: P MC9180168 PMID: 35681983
Cadwell K, Blair A, Turner-Maffei C, Gabel M, Brimdyr K. Powdered Baby Formula Sold in North America: Assessing the Environmental Impact. Breastfeed Med. 2020 Oct;15(10):671-679. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2020.0090. Epub 2020 Jul 31. PMID: 32758012; PMCID: PMC7575352.