Env. Impact of BF vs. FF? (Earth Day)

[rosie29]

Can anyone point me to some links about the environmental impact of BF vs. FF? In honor of Earth Day, I want to send some info/thanks to some BFing mama friends. I'm looking for info on the amt. of waste that FFing produces, and the impact of the cows that produce the milk for formula (runoff, etc). Thank you!

[Inspired007]

What about all the waste that the packaging of infant formula creates. Breastfeeding doesn't create any problems with landfills if people don't recycle. Also, to use formula, one must use extra water. With breastfeeding, there is no extra water, only that which the mother drinks.

[mamajake]

Originally Posted by rosie29

Can anyone point me to some links about the environmental impact of BF vs. FF? In honor of Earth Day, I want to send some info/thanks to some BFing mama friends. I'm looking for info on the amt. of waste that FFing produces, and the impact of the cows that produce the milk for formula (runoff, etc). Thank you!

Here is a good start: http://www.waba.org.my/pdf/World%20H...Day%202008.pdf - a joint statement from WABA and LLLI for 2008 Earth Day on how breastfeeding helps combat climate change. I bet there is lots more if you search around the WABA site.

[jillc512]

Thanks for the link! Our next LLL meeting's topic will be "Breastmilk is 'Green'", so this will be perfect! (I guess I should check out the LLL website a little more often!)

I also found this article: http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm. It's at least a few years old, but has some interesting info.

[mamajake]

Coincidentally this came up on another list today and someone posted this link: http://www.infactcanada.ca/ren_res.htm

[spmamma]

I don't have any stats to support this but another reason formula isn't green like BFing is the environmental impact from having to transport it to stores (gas, oil, smog, etc.).

[jillc512]

Oh, and I found this! http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/eco-mama.html

[jillc512]

Originally Posted by jillc512

Oh, and I found this! http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/eco-mama.html

Ha! I should have known - I read down to the end and it said "This article is reprinted from Mothering Magazine, issue #95, July/Aug. 1999 1-800-984-8116."

[rosie29]

Thanks, mamas!