Great article on BF vs FF in terms of the environment

[JessasMilkMama]

This is a good article to pass around. I figured it belonged in Lactivism more than anywhere else.

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/2...ntProfile=1055

In their first year, a baby on formula consumes an estimated average of 14,500 ounces of formula. That divides out to more than 60 canisters that are thrown away in a year by a single baby (well, by mom and dad, at least). Those canisters are made of packaging that includes tin, paper, and plastic, all materials that are resource-intensive in their production.

Then we get to the feeding bottles and nipples, which are made of plastics, glass, rubber and silicone. In the U.S., most formula-fed babies have at least six bottles each, meaning that in the U.S. alone, there are more than 20 million plastic feeding bottles sold each year. Bottles and teats must be sterilized before every use.

[Koloe]

Except that mothers who have to express milk for their DC - for what ever reason - still use the bottle parts along with a breast pump that is often a 1 mother item if not renting hospital grade. So unless the mother has the nursing baby with her 24/7 until they no longer need to nurse, there is still an imprint.

But other than that - it's still an interesting argument for a person who is environmentally conscious.

[SheBear]

Very interesting! (i'm looking forward to showing dh a $ amount of how much I've saved our family over the course of 4 kids in 6 years! I think I deserve a nice new nursing dress! )

WRT PP, yes, there is still an environmental impact from mothers who choose/need to use pumps and bottles. However, the *act* of breastfeeding does not intrinsically leave a footprint, whereas formula feeding by it's very nature leaves a rather large one...I think that's the point the article is intending to make.

And of course, even when pumps and bottles are used, the footprint is much smaller, as those items are (or can be) basically one-time purchases, that can in many cases be used for multiple children. Even pumps, which are intended to be used by one woman only can be used by that woman for more than one baby! It'd be interesting to get approximate figures on exclusive/regular/occasional pumping to compare it to exclusive formula feeding, but I doubt that the data for that would be easy to come by, or easy to interpret.

Still, I suspect the difference btw the footprints of exclusive pumping and exclusive formula feeding would be astonishingly large....

[Kappa]

And besides, there is the infrastructure needed to manufacture and transport formula from the source (cows) to the baby in its final form. In our energy insecure society, that is a positive of BF and/or pumping as well. It doesn't take a truck to get BM from pumping momma to baby, kwim?

[JamesMama]

Very interesting!

I choose not to give bottles at all (and I'm blessed to be a SAHM so I can make that choice) it's nice to know I'm doing a (small) part to help the environment!!

[elanorh]

I just posted it to Facebook, thanks! Quite a few of my friends are single, or just starting their families; and many are environmentally conscious so hopefully this gives them a little more information that they can use to either encourage themselves, or their friends/family, during breastfeeding difficulties; or even when it's not so much "difficulties" as it is "unsupported by [spouse, coworkers, HCPs, family or friends]."

[SwanMom]

Another thing that the article doesn't mention is that "growing" cow milk can be hard on the environment. Pesticides are often used producing foods for the cows, resources and energy are used to feed, milk, and otherwise care for the cows, etc.

My using a breast pump while I'm at work (or even if I used it all the time) is not any worse for the environment than pumping a cow for its milk, producing formula from that milk, producing the packaging, packaging it up, transporting it, heating it, sterilizing bottles, etc.

[ramama]

Additionally, the delayed menstruation that most exclusively breastfeeding mothers experience drastically cuts down on the waste from disposable pads and tampons, cutting down on the energy used and pollution emitted in factories, the packaging they come in, the fuel used to ship them to stores, and the bleach used in the manufacturing process.

Not too shabby.

[mama24-7]

Originally Posted by SheBear

And of course, even when pumps and bottles are used, the footprint is much smaller, as those items are (or can be) basically one-time purchases, that can in many cases be used for multiple children. Even pumps, which are intended to be used by one woman only can be used by that woman for more than one baby! It'd be interesting to get approximate figures on exclusive/regular/occasional pumping to compare it to exclusive formula feeding, but I doubt that the data for that would be easy to come by, or easy to interpret.

Not sure if this is what you are looking for/mean, but your basic double electric & likely single electric pump are designed for use w/ 2 children. I think this is semi to regular use. I don't remember where I learned this but wanted to share .

Sus

[star*mora]

love the title - mammaries for the planet

i have actually used the environmental take when talking about breastfeeding. guess lots of others do too!

[pookel]

Why would you throw formula cans away? Those things are useful!! I have a box of them in the garage and I use them whenever I need a container for pencils, small toys, etc.

[leafwood]

This is so great. I'm adding it to my little "booklet" that I put into shower gifts for new mamas.