Third of young people now buy plant-based milk instead of dairy

VEGAN milk is no longer just a trend with millennials as a third of young people buy it instead of dairy.

While many switch from dairy to soy milk due to environmental concerns, the Sustainable Food Trust warned earlier this week that the latter could be far more harmful to the environment.

A report showed that grass-fed dairy milk poses less of a threat to the Amazon and other rainforests than many soy products do.

According to data from global market research firm Mintel, 23 per cent of Britons use plant-based milk. It is most popular among people aged 16 to 24, with as many as a third opting for dairyfree. Cow’s milk usage in this same age group fell by 73 per cent in 2019.

“With volume sales of cow’s milk already on a downward trend, the fact that more young consumers are turning away from these products does not bode well for this segment’s prospects,” said Emma Clifford, associate director of UK food and drink at Mintel.

Dairy-free milk brand Oatly said most of its customers bought their product because of “increased awareness” about the environment.

Ishen Paran, the brand’s UK general manager, said consumers now know they can have a direct impact on the planet “through the products they choose”.

Before, consumers mainly opted for dairy-free alternatives for dietary or health reasons, he added.

The dairy industry has been trying to reduce its carbon footprint, and earlier this summer methane from cow dung was sold to the National Grid.