INFANT FEEDING AFFECTS CLIMATE CHANGE info@maltabreastfeeding.org

Infant feeding options Option 1 Option 2 Bottle feeding Breastfeeding

Let us take a look at both options – starting with bottle feeding …….

Milk fed in bottles can come from cows or human mothers.

Bottle feeding cows’ milk Cows reared for the production of milk frequently are made to pasture on land that is purposely deforested for this use; Though it’s not their fault cows produce much of the methane that contributes to the green house effect.

Cows' milk is expressed by machines; it is then transported to the factories that turn cows' milk into a powdered formula for the consumption of human babies.

The seemingly insignificant little bottle requires tens of factories to manufacture the products used in artificial infant feeding - all using up precious scarce fuel and causing pollution and waste!

Factories that make formula for human infants

Factories that make tin for the cans and factories that make the cans

Factories that make the plastic for the bottles, factories that make the bottles, factories that make the caps

Factories that make the teats

Factories that make the labels and do the printing

Factories that make the sterilisers

Factories that make the cardboard boxes and lifters for the packaging

Further use of precious scarce fuel is used in transport. All these products have to be first intra-transported between the manufacturers and then transported to the distributors in all industrialised countries and in some underdeveloped countries causing more pollution and waste!

Once the products are at the shops – you have to use your resources like money, time and effort - to purchase the products to feed your child ….and transport them to your home.

At home you will spend more precious time, effort and money to make up the bottles – measuring, boiling water, mixing, washing up, sterilising …

Bottle feeding human mothers’ milk When you express your breastmilk you are relieving the Earth from the burden of dealing with the negative results of much of the manufacturing processes mentioned above …

…. but you are still using products like pumps, bottles or cups, teats, packaging, bags, containers, fridges and using resources like fuel in the form of gas and electricity, money, time and effort.

BOTTLE FEEDING CONTRIBUTES TO GLOBAL WARMING To make up this bottle for your baby - Earth, its inhabitants and its atmosphere have to suffer!

Now ……a look at breastfeeding

Baby is put to the mother’s breast …the shortest distance possible for fresh human milk to go to its destination in optimum condition with no negative effects on the Earth, its atmosphere and its present and future inhabitants ....

… for as long as you want, wherever you want, whenever you want !

The choices we make What is your choice? Cleaner climate is safeguarded by the intelligent choices we make as individuals regarding our consumption and our behaviour. Breastfeeding is a natural resource that requires little energy and produces little waste. It costs near to nothing to make and time dedicated directly concerns feeding. Breastfeeding ensures a cleaner climate. 95% of mothers have no physical or mental health problems that disable them from breastfeeding. What is your choice?