In 2017, ProVeg International and Plant Based News announced August 22nd as World Plant Milk Day. This day of action showcases how tasty, healthy and easily available plant-based milks are. This year, ProVeg is running the international campaign in Germany, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, the UK and South Africa.

The impacts of milk production on animals and the environment

Plant-based alternatives to dairy are now available in most supermarkets and the demand for plant-based milk is on an upward trend. Nevertheless, there are about 270 million dairy cows worldwide, most of whom live in intensive farm conditions.¹

 

 

Livestock farming causes vast swathes of natural habitat destruction and is a major culprit in the loss of biodiversity on our planet. It’s one of the leading drivers of climate change, responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than the entire global transport sector. Cow’s milk alone is responsible for 20% of this.^{2 3 4}

International ProVeg campaign for World Plant Milk Day

In order to reduce the negative impacts of milk production on the climate and on dairy cows, World Plant Milk Day was launched in 2017. This year, on 22 August, exciting campaigns will take place in all ProVeg countries together with various partners:

– ProVeg South Africa is organising a tasting of plant-based milk at the University of Cape Town, and over 30 restaurants are offering plant milk at no extra cost, thanks to the work of Cape Town Vegan.

– ProVeg Germany is inviting regional groups to bring World Plant Milk Day to their city, with information stands and plant milk tastings.

– ProVeg Netherlands is collaborating with cafés to have them offer plant-based milk for free on World Plant Milk Day.

– ProVeg Spain is promoting the 7 Day Dairy-free Challenge, and is working with the organisation Vegetarianos Hoy! in Chile to bring the dairy-free challenge to Latin America.

– ProVeg UK is also offering the 7 Day Dairy-free Challenge this year, aiming to motivate people to try plant-based alternatives to milk, cheese and yoghurt.

– ProVeg Poland is working with top vegan-friendly restaurants who have agreed to offer special discounts on plant-based drinks and desserts. In addition, they have teamed up with Ben and Jerry’s to launch a new ice cream variety in Poland for World Plant Milk Day. This year ProVeg Poland will also participate in the 7 Day Dairy-free Challenge, with special discounts for plant-based milks and recipes from famous bloggers. With a poster campaign at tram stops in Warsaw, they advertise “Let the cows go on holiday – try plant milk this summer” as a refreshing alternative to cow’s milk.

 

The 10 best vegan milk alternatives

Numerous studies refute the advertising fairy tale of healthy milk. Many nutrition experts therefore recommend consuming plant-based alternatives instead of cow’s milk.

Take an active role in World Plant Milk Day!

Do you also want to participate in World Plant Milk Day? Here are some things you can do:

– Learn about the negative effects of milk production on the environment and animals.

– Pledge to reduce or eliminate your consumption of dairy products for 1 week, 1 month or 1 year from August 22nd.

– Learn about the benefits of plant-based products and try to incorporate them into your diet.

– Start your own campaign! Go to your favourite café and ask for a discount on plant milk on August 22nd.

 

Sources

_{1 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2017): FAOSTAT Statistics Database. Available at http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QL [02.01.2017]}

_{2 Vermeulen, SJ et al. (2012): Climate Change and Food Systems. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 37, p. 195-222}

_{3 Herrero, M., B. Henderson, P. Havlik, et al. (2016): Greenhouse gas mitigation potentials in the livestock sector. Nature Clim. Change. 6, pp. 452-461}

_{4 Gerber, PJ, Steinfeld, H., Henderson, B., et al. (2013): Tackling climate change through livestock: a global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). P. 23}