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Which Is Greener: Almond Milk or Cashew Milk?
Introduction
Almond Milk and Cashew Milk are both plant-based alternatives to dairy, but their environmental impact is not quite the same. Water use is one of the main concerns with almond milk, especially in California, where almond farming relies heavily on irrigation. One life-cycle study found that almond cultivation made up about 95% of the freshwater use linked to the almond milk studied.
Cashew Milk has its own environmental concerns, including farming, land use, processing and transport. However, there is much less research directly comparing commercial cashew milk with almond milk. Because of that, it would be too strong to say that cashew milk is always the greener choice.
Why Water Matters When Comparing Almond and Cashew Milk
Water is usually the first issue that comes up when discussing almond milk and sustainability. Almond trees need water during the growing season, and much of the commercial almond crop in California is grown with irrigation. One life-cycle assessment of unsweetened almond milk made with California almonds estimated freshwater consumption at 175 kg for a 48-ounce (1.42-litre) bottle, with about 167 kg linked to almond cultivation.
That figure should not be applied to every almond milk product. Farming conditions, irrigation practices, crop yields and location can change water use. The same amount of water can also have a very different environmental impact depending on whether it is used in a water-stressed area or somewhere with more available water. So, the simple claim that almond milk “uses too much water” does not tell the whole story.
What About Cashew Milk?
Cashew Milk is made using cashews and water, although the ingredients and manufacturing process can vary between products. Compared with almond milk, there is less widely available life-cycle research specifically looking at commercial cashew milk. This makes a direct environmental comparison harder.
Cashews are grown mainly in tropical and subtropical areas, including parts of Africa and Asia. Their farming systems are different from the irrigated almond orchards commonly associated with California. Still, cashew production can involve land use, farming inputs, processing and transportation, so growing conditions and sourcing matter.
Almond Milk Has a Clear Water Disadvantage
If freshwater use is your main concern, almond milk has a clear drawback. The California almond milk study found that irrigation for almond cultivation was the biggest contributor to freshwater consumption in the supply chain it assessed.
Where that water is used also matters. Irrigation in a region already dealing with drought or water pressure can have greater environmental consequences than the same amount of water used in a region with fewer shortages. This is why the growing location of almonds is worth considering rather than looking only at the name of the ingredient.
Cashew Milk Is Not Automatically the Winner
It might be tempting to say that cashew milk is greener simply because almond farming can require substantial irrigation. There is not enough evidence to make that claim confidently. Cashew farming also has environmental questions involving land use, agricultural practices, crop yields and processing.
There is another problem when comparing studies: they may not measure the same parts of the supply chain. One study might focus on farming, while another includes processing, packaging and transport. Because the methods and boundaries can differ, comparing individual figures can give a misleading impression.
What About Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
Water is only one part of the environmental picture. Greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, packaging, land use and transportation can also affect the footprint of plant-based milk.
The California almond milk life-cycle assessment estimated 0.71 kg of CO₂-equivalent emissions for a 48-ounce bottle. Packaging was a meaningful part of the carbon footprint in that study. This shows that what happens after the almonds are grown can matter too. The container still needs to be produced, filled, transported and eventually recycled or discarded.
Farming Location Can Change the Answer
Two cartons of almond milk or cashew milk may not have exactly the same environmental footprint. Almonds grown under different irrigation conditions can require different amounts of water, while cashews grown in different regions can have different yields and farming inputs.
Transport is another part of the picture, particularly for cashews that may move from growing regions to processing facilities and then to consumer markets. Still, transportation should not be considered on its own. Where and how the nuts are grown can be just as important as which nut is used.
Does Processing and Packaging Matter?
Both almond and cashew milk go through processing before they reach the shelf. Manufacturers may also use ingredients such as stabilisers, oils, sweeteners, salt or added nutrients. Different recipes and production methods can therefore lead to different environmental footprints.
Packaging also plays a role. The almond milk study found that packaging contributed to greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. For consumers, choosing practical packaging, checking whether it can be recycled locally and avoiding products that are likely to be wasted are useful steps regardless of the type of plant milk.
So, Which Is Greener?
There is no simple overall winner. Almond milk has a well-documented concern around freshwater use, particularly when almonds are grown in heavily irrigated or water-stressed areas. The California study shows how strongly almond cultivation can influence the freshwater footprint.
Cashew Milk may avoid some of that particular irrigation concern, but that does not make it automatically greener. Cashew farming, processing, land use and transportation also matter, while direct life-cycle comparisons between commercial almond and cashew milk remain limited.
What Should You Look for When buying?
You do not need to study environmental assessments every time you buy plant-based milk. If sourcing information is available, check where the main ingredient comes from and consider the type of packaging used.
It also makes sense to buy an amount you are likely to finish. Wasting food or throwing away unused products adds to the environmental impact. The more useful approach is to look at the product as a whole rather than judging it only by whether it contains almonds or cashews.
What the Comparison Shows
So, which is greener: almond milk or cashew milk? Almond milk has the clearer concern when it comes to freshwater use, especially for almonds grown in irrigated areas such as California.
Cashew milk can be a reasonable alternative, but there is not enough comparable evidence to call it the overall environmental winner. Farming location, land use, processing, packaging and transportation all have a part to play. Looking at the whole supply chain gives a more realistic answer than simply choosing one nut over the other.
Which Is Greener: Almond Milk or Cashew Milk? – FAQ
1. Which is greener, almond milk or cashew milk?
Cashew milk may have an advantage in some areas, but there is not enough comparable research to say it is always greener than almond milk.
2. Does almond milk use a lot of water?
Yes. Almond production can require substantial irrigation, particularly in water-stressed regions such as California.
3. Is cashew milk better for the environment than almond milk?
Not necessarily. Cashew farming also has environmental impacts related to land use, farming, processing and transportation.
4. Why is almond milk associated with high water use?
Almond trees need water during production, and much of the commercial almond crop in California depends on irrigation.
5. Does where almonds are grown affect their environmental impact?
Yes. Growing conditions, irrigation practices and local water availability can change the environmental impact of almond production.
6. Does cashew farming affect the environment?
Yes. Land use, farming practices, processing and transportation can all affect the environmental footprint of cashews.
7. Is water use the only factor when comparing almond and cashew milk?
No. Greenhouse gas emissions, land use, energy, packaging and transportation also matter.
8. Does packaging affect the environmental impact of plant milk?
Yes. Producing, transporting and disposing of the bottle or carton can contribute to the product’s overall environmental footprint.
9. Which should I choose if water conservation is my main concern?
Cashew milk may be worth considering, but the better choice depends on where and how the ingredients are produced.
10. Is cashew milk always more sustainable than almond milk?
No. There is not enough direct research to support that conclusion in every situation.
