Is plant-based yogurt good for the environment? It depends on both ingredients and packaging.
Evaluating ingredients and packaging together tends to cultivate mixed feelings, but taking the time to do it amplifies the value of decision making power.
If we follow a plant-based diet, our choices shrink quickly in the yogurt aisle. And if we’re trying to avoid plastic packaging, the selection becomes even smaller.
On a recent trip to a big box grocery store, there were no dairy-free yogurts that avoided plastic entirely.
One new brand offered hope with a paper cup and a foil lid, but unfortunately, the inside of the cup was lined with plastic film, making it non-recyclable and non-compostable. On the plus side, this brand sources its coconuts from places other than Thailand and Indonesia, where monkey labor is known to be an issue. Ingredient sourcing matters just as much as packaging.
At a big box department store in the grocery section, we found a classic yogurt brand in a new glass jar with a foil lid—a great alternative to plastic. Still, we need to consider how the ingredients are sourced and harvested, and the information on this product was inconclusive.
Considering the carbon footprint of importing ingredients, as well as how the ingredients are processed, we realize that the food we love has a cost that goes beyond the price we pay.
What’s the most sustainable solution?
One option is to make plant-based yogurt at home using nuts grown in the U.S., like almonds or walnuts. Homemade yogurt can be fun but it does take time and tools. Another option is to cut back on eating yogurt, choosing more sustainable packaging whenever possible. The minimalist choice would be switching to a vegan probiotic supplement until the yogurt industry catches up to sustainable trends.
Ultimately, the goal is yogurt that is made from locally-sourced and ethically-harvested ingredients, presented to us in sustainable packaging if we choose not to make it at home.
Evaluating ingredients and packaging can be exhausting, but it is an important part of moving toward a circular economy.
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