Breastfeeding - A Win For Health, Sustainability, and Economics
This article is based of an article found on ennonline.net
Breastfeeding has long been celebrated for its health benefits, but its broader significance for environmental sustainability and economic value is just beginning to emerge. Two groundbreaking resources—the Mothers’ Milk Tool and the Green Feeding Tool—now quantify the economic and environmental costs of not breastfeeding, shedding light on the multifaceted value of human milk.
The Health Impact of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a cornerstone of nutrition, offering unique immunological and developmental benefits. Often called "the first vaccination," breastmilk adapts dynamically to meet the changing needs of the child, even modifying its composition based on signals from the infant. Beyond its role in reducing infant mortality and promoting growth, breastfeeding lowers risks of reproductive cancers, type 2 diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases for mothers.
Despite these advantages, less than half of infants globally are exclusively breastfed in their first six months. In some regions, this figure is even lower, emphasizing the need for renewed efforts to support breastfeeding as a universal practice.
A woman breastfeeding her child.
Environmental Sustainability
Commercial milk formula (CMF) contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Predominantly derived from dairy, CMF production is resource-intensive: each kilogram requires over 5,000 liters of water and generates 11–14 kg of CO₂. Feeding an infant with CMF for six months produces 226–288 kg of CO₂, a stark contrast to the near-zero emissions of breastfeeding.
The Green Feeding Tool highlights the environmental toll of CMF and advocates for reducing its consumption. By promoting breastfeeding, we can cut greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing infant and maternal health. Adjustments to carbon-offset schemes like the United Nations’ Clean Development Mechanism could further incentivize breastfeeding as a low-carbon feeding practice.
The Economic Case for Breastfeeding
The economic value of breastfeeding extends across three dimensions:
Health Costs: Insufficient breastfeeding leads to higher rates of stunting, disease, and cognitive losses, all of which burden healthcare systems.
Macroeconomic Value: Breastfeeding women provide an unpaid but invaluable source of nutrition. The Mothers’ Milk Tool calculates that the world loses $2.2 trillion annually due to "lost milk"—human milk not produced because of low breastfeeding rates.
Investment: Policies such as paid maternity leave and maternity care reform are necessary to enable breastfeeding. Investments in countering CMF marketing are equally critical.
Remarkably, current GDP calculations ignore the contribution of human milk while including CMF production, distorting economic priorities. The Mothers’ Milk Tool, using conservative estimates of $100 per liter of milk, quantifies the value of breastfeeding and highlights its significance for food security, particularly in emergencies.
Advocacy and Policy Recommendations
Both tools underscore the urgent need for supportive policies, including:
Extending paid maternity leave to encourage breastfeeding.
Reforming maternity care practices to prioritize breastfeeding.
Strengthening regulations against CMF marketing.
Incorporating breastfeeding interventions into climate change and economic strategies.
These actions would not only empower mothers to achieve their breastfeeding goals but also yield substantial health, environmental, and economic benefits for society.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is more than a health practice; it is a global strategy for sustainable development. Tools like the Mothers’ Milk Tool and the Green Feeding Tool provide compelling data to drive advocacy and policy changes. By prioritizing breastfeeding, we can achieve a triple win for health, sustainability, and economic prosperity.
Main referance:
https://www.ennonline.net/fex/72/human-milk-a-win-win-win-for-health-sustainability-and-economics
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1 https://nceph.anu.edu.au/research/projects/valuing-breastfeeding-through-mothers-milk-tool
2 https://nceph.anu.edu.au/research/projects/green-feeding-tool