While milk might have a higher greenhouse gas score than other beverages such as orange juice or soy drink, it brings with it a much denser package of nutrients. And when that fact is considered, milk provides the most nutrition with the least environmental impact.
Swedish researchers, who published findings in the August 23, 2010 issue of Food and Nutrition Research, say milk has a Nutrient Density to Climate Impact (NDCI) index of 0.54. In contrast, orange juice has an NDCI of 0.28 and soy drink, 0.25. Soft drinks, beer and mineral water, because of their low nutrient density, all have an NDCI of 0.
“Future discussion on how changes in food consumption patterns might help avert climate change need to take both GHG emission and nutrient density of foods and beverages into account,” say the study’s authors.
