What we drink contributes nearly a quarter of food's total climate impact. On hot tropical days, your beverage choice matters for the planet. Tap water tops the list as the most climate-friendly option, while lattes rank high due to their milk content—like the steak of drinks. This comes from research by Milieu Centraal, a trusted environmental information organization. You can further reduce your footprint by avoiding waste, selecting sustainable packaging, and sticking to the Dutch Wheel of Five guidelines for dairy.
Climate-Smart Tips for Beverages
Tap water is the ultimate eco-friendly thirst quencher. The average Dutch person enjoys over two glasses daily. Coffee follows closely as our top at-home drink. Its climate impact hinges on brewing the right amount and milk usage. Black coffee keeps emissions low, but cappuccinos can quadruple the footprint per cup.
Key Differences Across Drinks
For coffee and tea, boiling excess water drives up energy use. Dairy's high emissions stem from livestock farming and feed production—we waste a quarter of what we buy. Packaging significantly affects wine, beer, juice, and sodas. Juice and wine also depend on crop cultivation, while beer varies: lagers score three times better than specialty brews due to lower malt needs.
Tap Water vs. Bottled Water
For greener hydration, swap other drinks for tap water. If every Dutch person replaced two weekly soda glasses with tap water, we'd save CO2 equivalent to a new forest spanning 5,000 football fields yearly. Tap water is 100 times more climate-friendly than 1.5L bottled water—and 200 times better than 0.5L. Use refillable bottles at home and on the go.
Practical Steps for Everyday Impact:
• Thirsty? Reach for tap water.
• Buy, brew, and drink to exact needs.
• Limit dairy—including in coffee—to Wheel of Five recommendations from the Nutrition Centre; it's a high-impact category.
• Minimize beer, wine, juice, and sodas for health benefits too.
• Opt for returnable packaging when available.
• Recycle properly—consult your local waste guide.
