Posted by Debbie Luyo on Jan.31, 2009

Breastfeeding is good for babies and moms, and planet Earth, too. Breast milk is produced through a natural process that takes place inside the mother’s body. Baby formula, also known as artificial baby milk, is produced through an industrial process. Now more than ever, environmental concerns are spawning closer scrutiny of industry’s impact on our air, water, and ecosystems. From an ecological standpoint, breastfeeding makes more sense than formula feeding. Breastfeeding conserves resources, and does not directly contribute to pollution and global warming. Formula feeding, on the other hand, is associated with a number of environmental concerns. Deforestation, soil erosion, water and air pollution, massive energy consumption, and global warming are some of the environmental problems aggravated by the looming presence of the baby formula industry. In a world where people are moving toward more sustainable ways of living, breastfeeding is a very green behavior.

Baby formula manufacturing utilizes a vast quantity of natural resources. Because cow’s milk is the main ingredient in baby formula, making it requires acres and acres of pastureland for grazing cows. More land is needed for growing food to feed those cows. Deforestation to clear land for more cow pastures and more cultivation leads to soil erosion, and damages plant and animal species. Cultivation of cattle feed consumes tons of fertilizer and enormous amounts of water for irrigation. Heating baby bottles uses up even more water. Fresh from the mother, breast milk is always the perfect temperature, and requires no heating. In some non-industrialized parts of the world wood is a valuable commodity, and may be the only fuel available for heating water. Breastfeeding even for a few months can help to minimize the misuse of natural resources, and conserve land, water, and trees.

Formula manufacturing and packaging processes release harmful toxins into the atmosphere, and generate waste in the form of paper, plastic, and tin. Feeding formula to three million babies for one year generates 450 million tin cans, and 70,000 tons of un-recycled metal. Making labels for all those tin cans imparts yet another environmental burden. Dioxin, a hazardous chemical, is a byproduct of the paper making process. Dioxin contamination in breast milk has been an issue of concern. However, experts agree that contaminants in mother’s milk are miniscule in comparison to the levels of dioxin associated with the manufacture and production of baby formula. Health and safety issues are endemic to the baby formula industry, while mother’s milk is safe, with no danger of a product recall.

The baby formula industry contributes to air and water pollution in a major way. Sewage from soil runoff, pesticides, and cow manure is emptied into rivers and ground water. Cows expel methane gas, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Methane from cows represents a whopping 20 percent of annual greenhouse emissions. Transportation is another issue with environmental consequences. Transporting raw materials for making and packaging formula burns gasoline, and contributes to air pollution and global warming. The finished product may travel thousands of miles to reach store shelves. Some countries import baby formula from faraway locations.

Breastfeeding conserves energy. The baby formula industry consumes large amounts of electricity. Converting cow’s milk into powder form at high-temperatures is an energy-intensive process. The manufacture of bottles and nipples also relies on a large expenditure of precious energy. Other than nutritious food, a breastfeeding mom requires no outside energy source.

Breastfeeding means less trash, with fewer waste products to take up space in landfills. The manufacture of bottles, nipples, and other equipment for feeding babies uses large amounts of plastic, rubber, silicon, and glass, all of which take several lifetimes to break down. Exclusive breastfeeding can delay the return of menstruation for an average of 14 months, giving moms a break from tampons and sanitary pads. Breastfed babies have fewer bowel movements, and require fewer diaper changes. That translates to fewer tampons, pads, and used diapers filling up limited landfill space.

Despite overwhelming testimonial to the benefits of breastfeeding, its acceptance has been tentative at best in some parts of the world, including the United States. Breastfeeding mothers deserve support from family, government, healthcare providers, and the public in general. Formula feeding represents an outdated concept; that humans can improve upon nature. As we return to nature in our efforts to establish sustainable patterns of green living, breastfeeding will take its place as the gold standard. For the health and well being of babies and mothers everywhere, and for the preservation of our beloved planet, breastfeeding is the best choice, the only choice.

Source:                                                                                                               http://www.parentingweb.com/lounge/whybf.htm

http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Issue-Papers/Benefits.pdf

http://www.4woman.gov/Breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=227

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Posted under About Mom, Family, GDM Baby.