Feeding a baby with formula for the first six months of life can result in the emission of a quarter tonne of greenhouse gases, note public health researchers. 

Have you ever thought of breastfeeding as a sustainable food source? Can it serve as a carbon offset for the formula milk industry? A group of public health researchers recently explored the answers in a thought-provoking paper titled ‘A proposal to recognise investment in breastfeeding as a carbon offset’, as part of a special issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Co-authored by experts from the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, Alive & Thrive East Asia Pacific, Munster Technological University, Auckland University of Technology, and the WHO, the paper highlights that breastfeeding is environmentally friendly. Formula feeding, on the other hand, is resource-intensive and contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions.

Commercial milk formula production involves considerable environmental costs, including the use of more than 5,000 litres of water per kilogram of formula and the generation of 11-14 kilograms of greenhouse gases. Feeding a baby with formula for the first six months of life can result in the emission of a quarter tonne of greenhouse gases. In contrast, breastfeeding has a minimal carbon footprint and requires fewer resources, making it a more sustainable option. Furthermore, breastfeeding reduces the prevalence of diseases in women and children.

The authors argue that while the economic growth from formula sales is recognised, the environmental harm caused by formula production is often ignored. To address this imbalance, they propose redirecting international climate change financing to fund breastfeeding interventions. This could involve high-income countries financing lower-middle-income countries to implement policies and programmes that support breastfeeding. 

Initiatives proposed by the authors include funding skilled birth attendance, maternity care, and ending marketing misinformation related to formula milk. With respect to the workplace, initiatives like providing paid maternity leave, creating breastfeeding-friendly environments, and making necessary infrastructure investments are recommended. 

Associate Professor Julie Smith, the lead author, makes a strong case for recognising and investing in breastfeeding support for human and planetary health. The paper calls for radical changes in how decisions regarding human and planetary health are made, emphasising the need to prioritise breastfeeding support within global climate action plans.

Government subsidies often support high greenhouse gas-emitting dairy products, yet the low-carbon footprint and productivity of breastfeeding are undervalued and under-resourced. By recognising breastfeeding as a carbon offset, countries can make significant strides in achieving sustainability goals, reducing resource use, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

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