Breastfeeding and Environmental Consciousness: A Narrative Review of Environmental Implications and Potential Contributions to Reduce Waste and Energy Consumption

Cureus. 2023 Sep 24;15(9):e45878. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45878. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Breastfeeding is a natural and essential process that not only confers numerous health benefits to infants and mothers but also plays an important role in environmental sustainability. This narrative review explores the environmental implications of breastfeeding in comparison to formula feeding and examines the potential contributions of breastfeeding to reduce waste, energy consumption, and carbon footprint. By exploring the existing literature and research findings, this review sheds light on how breastfeeding aligns with environmental conservation efforts and reinforces the importance of promoting breastfeeding practices for a more sustainable and environment-friendly future.

Keywords: breastfeeding; carbon footprint; energy consumption; environmental sustainability; waste reduction.

Publication types

  • Review