Oat Milk In Plastic Bottles Still Significantly More Sustainable Than Dairy

Mathew Isaacs, founder of MyEmissions, argues that despite using plastic bottles, oat milk is still a more sustainable choice than dairy milk. His analysis showed that the emissions from oat milk in plastic containers are significantly lower than those from cow's milk. Even though plastic cartons have a higher impact than alternatives like Tetra Pak, oat milk in plastic bottles still has a lower carbon footprint than traditional cow's milk.

Oato, a plant-based brand, sells oat milk in plastic cartons due to the environmental challenges of other packaging options. While tetra packs are less recyclable and contain layered materials that make them hard to sort, clear plastic milk bottles are widely recyclable. Oato emphasized the need for more sustainable packaging options like glass, but the lack of a deposit return scheme makes this difficult. Ultimately, the overall environmental benefits of oat milk make it a more sustainable choice despite the use of plastic packaging.