At a time when 8 out of 10 French people are concerned about the environment1, it's hard to ignore the ecological consequences of whey production. Whey is currently the most widely consumed protein powder by athletes and body-builders. Every year, several tonnes of this product are sold on the European market. Hence concerns about the ecological consequences of its production. Does the whey protein manufacturing process damage the planet? Is industrial whey harmful to the environment?
Whey protein: a milk-based product
First and foremost, whey is derived from milk filtration. To assess whey's impact on the environment, we therefore need to look at the raw material itself. Unfortunately, most whey today comes from intensive livestock farms outside France, or even outside the EU.
Outside the European Union, farming conditions are much less stringent, and animal meal is permitted. Where productivity is paramount, dairy farmers resort to intensive breeding, with all its drawbacks, including animal suffering, pollution and a deplorable carbon footprint.
In the European Union, cows are, on the face of it, reared in better conditions thanks to much stricter standards. In fact, intensive livestock farming, although still very much present, is tending to lose ground. But livestock is largely fed on soya, mainly imported from Brazil. To support this industry, the Brazilian authorities have stepped up their efforts to increase arable land. This policy encourages large-scale deforestation. Deforestation linked to Western meat and dairy production is known as "import deforestation".
Good to know: according to Greenpeace, 95% of soy produced in Brazil is GMO. In Europe, you won't find any mention of "GMO" on whey packaging, even though the cows that produced the milk consumed GMOs throughout their lives.
To minimize the ecological impact of milk consumption, and whey consumption by extension, we should therefore give preference to milk produced locally and on extensive and/or organic farms. Ideally, cows on these farms should not graze on land used to grow food for human consumption. For example, cows will be kept on mountain slopes and on plots freed up by crop rotation.
Cattle will be fed mainly on local grass, with no need for supplements such as soya.
In farming systems such as these, livestock no longer consume the ecosystem, but contribute to its balance. This is the case, for example, with farmers based in the Alps, such as those in the Beaufort and Tomme de Savoie appellations. Protéalpes buys directly from these primary producers, to guarantee the quality of the whey produced.
On these farms, quality takes precedence over productivity. Cows produce less milk than in intensive farming. Soya is avoided. The species raised are also traditional and have evolved with their environment. As a result, animals are more resistant to harsh climatic conditions, and antibiotics are not systematically used.
The ecological cost of importing milk and protein powder: beware of greenwashing
As such, importing milk or whey powder naturally adds to the ecological impact of protein powders. Many brands use milk from New Zealand cows to produce their protein powders. In this part of the world, the climate makes it possible to leave cattle on grassland for much longer.
Even if cows can stay outdoors all year round, while being fed soya, what about the huge quantities of fossil fuel needed to transport these materials from New Zealand to Europe?
Aware of the damage caused to the environment and, above all, the costs involved, some brands have decided to locate their protein powder production units in New Zealand. However, protein powder still has to travel thousands of kilometers to reach Europe. This idea does not solve the pollution and carbon dioxide emissions associated with sea and air transport. Indeed, relocation does not reduce the ecological impact and carbon footprint of protein powder - quite the contrary.
What about the other ingredients in whey and protein powder?
Whey sold ready-to-use is not, in fact, made entirely from whey. To improve taste or texture, producers add additives such as sweeteners, colorants, surfactants and thickeners. These substances mainly come from the chemical industry. The production of these additives involves numerous chemical reactions and solvents, producing waste that is difficult to recycle and degrade naturally.
Additives such as sucralose, which are mixed with protein powders, do not occur naturally. As a result, living organisms are unable to assimilate and transform them. These compounds then accumulate in the environment and can disrupt the ecosystem.
We can also look at the danger of lecithins derived from soya. Apart from the fact that soy sprouts are almost invariably GMOs, lecithin is often extracted using chemical solvents.
Good to know: soy lecithins are mainly used to reduce the foaming properties of whey. By mixing them with protein powder, the latter will foam less, reassuring athletes. This addition does not alter the amino acids and BCAAs present in whey. However, additives can ultimately be harmful to both sports nutrition and the body. That's why you should opt for protein powders labelled "additive-free".
What's more, not all whey brands use ultra- or micro-filtration to produce their protein powders. Some dairy giants use benzoyl peroxide as a whitening agent.
Unfortunately, it's difficult to know whether a whey concentrate or isolate has been treated with this ingredient or not. However, athletes and bodybuilding enthusiasts can always contact the brand in question.
What about protein powder production plants?
At first glance, whey production plants have little impact on the environment. As explained above, they involve mechanically filtering a liquid to obtain more or less purified, dehydrated proteins. Manufacturers use state-of-the-art equipment to obtain high-quality whey concentrate or isolate. These devices are essential for eliminating lactose and obtaining a high concentration of amino acids, particularly BCAAs.
But they are particularly energy-hungry. This enormous consumption of electricity increases the carbon footprint of the entire industry if no solution is found to ensure energy self-sufficiency.
Some plants that do not comply with current standards also pollute soil and rivers with large quantities of waste at the end of the cycle. This waste takes the form of biological sludge. At Protéaples, we entrust the production of our whey to Savoie Lactée2, a partner plant. The plant has been eco-designed to minimize the environmental impact of our activities. In particular, it has been equipped with a biosludge methanization system, producing biogas and more electricity than it consumes. At the end of the chain: clear, purified water. More details in our article: is our whey organic?
Note: If you're ecologically aware when it comes to food, you're probably ecologically aware when it comes to what you wear. Nosc, a French company, offers eco-responsible technical clothing created from castor-oil fibers. Take a look!
And if you want to know more about whey, check out these articles:
- How do I take whey?
- Is whey dangerous to your health?
- Is whey a dietary supplement?
- What are the side effects of whey?
- Can taking whey help you lose weight?
- The best whey-based cooking recipes
- Should I eat carbohydrates when building muscle?
1https://www.ladepeche.fr/2020/09/18/8-francais-sur-10-se-disent-concernes-par-la-lutte-contre-le-rechauffement-climatique-mais-peu-dentre-eux-sengagent-reellement-9080296.php
2https://www.savoie-lactee.com
