What's the environmental impact of bottlefeeding?

[psweudonym]

Not just formula, I know about ebm, but obviously the majority of milk fed to babies from bottles is formula.

How many cows, how much grazing land, how much energy for bottle and teat production, the transport of formula, the packaging of formula, landfill issues, etc.

Is it a way the Government might be persuaded to put more into bf support, do you think, given that "green" is a huge issue atm?

Or would they commission a study and discover that women who bfeed wash their nipples at 90 degrees and iron their breasts?!

I think there is an issue of potential conflict, though, and we have not seen much of it on this thread yet 'cos it's a bit tucked away in this folder.....it's that people who end up formula feeding can feel very disappointed about doing so, and project feelings of anger and resentment and sadness at any message which says implicitly (as they read it) that they are doing something 'wrong'.

I think the environmental and public health aspects of infant feeding are live, essential issues. But for some mothers, it's one more example of feeling criticised.

Is it possible to place the environmental/public health issues in the public eye, and not distress some people? It should be, but I am not sure how.

Tiktok, you've summed up my feelings in one with your sentence. I hate the fact I had to FF, but my breasts are genetivcally ornamental - now medically confirmed I might add!

So I've been lurking on this thread trying not to get angry at the potential thought of being blamed for yet another practice that new mothers may do which is damaging the environment.

I've taken the debate into work with me to get some RL opinions and have been told by a coleague 'I BF and used washable nappies so I dont feel guilty' Only for me to point out that she is now enjoying about 4 last minute, short-haul cheap internet flights each year.

"told by a coleague 'I BF and used washable nappies so I dont feel guilty' Only for me to point out that she is now enjoying about 4 last minute, short-haul cheap internet flights each year."

The only reason I am the teeniest bit eco friendly is due to finances

LowFat for you....feeling guilty over something that's not your fault is a bit mad but I think we all do it in some aspects of our lives unless someone gives us a good slap and tells us not to!

Your conversation with your colleague may have been light hearted, but I can't help thinking it's not pleasant for you or her to be in some sort of 'greener than thou' contest....you feel 'got at' because you didn't bf, and at what you see (maybe justifiedly) is her smugness, and she feels she can't express pleasure at something she did which was 'good' without being reminded of her air travel

So - my question remains. How do we express the environmental and public health aspects of infant feeding without making some women feel criticised? I don't know the answer!

For what it's worth, I don't think campaigns about increasing bf rates should be aimed at individual mothers - but at the public, at government, at employers, at people who think it's rude or disgusting.

Individual mothers need support in how to do it, not bossy-boots preaching.