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The dairy industry has a substantial impact on the environment. Farmers tend to about 270 million cows in order to produce milk, and this large-scale production has an enormous environmental impact. Large amounts of water are used to sustain the dairy industry through raising cattle, growing food and processing milk.Ìý. Raising dairy cattle also requires large amounts of land. Cattle create large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions that increase the effects of global warming. So, how can we offset this impact and make a small impact on a daily basis? Consider these alterations to your consumption of milk.

´¡ÌýÌýby the University of Oxford found that producing a singleÌýglass of dairy milk generatesÌýthree times as manyÌýgreenhouse emissions and uses nine times more land area in comparisonÌýto a glass of plant-based milk.

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These labels requireÌýthat animals ate a pasture-based, ruminant diet of only grass which provides better animal health (less gut disease) and nutrient quality in the final product. Animals were not confined to feedlots and did not have daily drugs.

• Soy milk
• Almond milk
• Coconut milk
• Oat milkÌý
• Cashew milk
• Rice milk

Milk bags are popular in Canada, China, India and other countries around the world. Milk bags are a thin polyethylene pouch that is lightweight and can hold large amounts of milk. They are lighter than typical cartons or jugs,Ìýwhich makes themÌýeasier and less expensiveÌýto ship and use less plastic than the standard milk jug. Plastic milk bags can be larger and can be more useful as a bulk resource. Liter to liter, milk bags consumeÌýÌýcompared to milk jugs.