By Kelli McGrane
Oat milk is popping up at coffee shops and grocery stores alike, quickly becoming one of the trendiest plant-based milks.
In its simplest form, it's made by soaking oats, blending them with water, and straining out the oats. Yet, many companies add ingredients like sweeteners, oils, thickeners, and stabilizers to alter the product's taste, texture, and shelf life.
Since many people prefer to avoid these additives, Healthline evaluated the healthiest oat milks based on the following criteria:
- quality of ingredients
- few — if any — added ingredients, such as stabilizers, thickeners, gums, sugars, colors, and flavors
- taste and texture
Here are the 14 best oat milks of 2020.
Pricing Guide
General price ranges are indicated below with dollar signs ($ to $$). One dollar sign means the product is rather affordable, whereas three dollar signs indicate a higher cost.
Generally, prices range from $0.08–$0.56 per ounce (30 mL), or $3.99–$44.99 per package, though this may vary depending on where you shop.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $0.10 per ounce (30 mL)
- $ = $0.10–$0.50 per ounce (30 mL)
- $$ = over $0.50 per ounce (30 mL)
1. Best Overall: Oatly Original Oatmilk
Price: $
The Swedish company Oatly, considered the original oat milk manufacturer, has become increasingly popular in the United States.
Its thick, creamy texture, slight sweetness, and versatility for baking and drinking alike make it the best overall option on the market.
Its Original Oatmilk product owes its rich consistency to non-GMO, expeller-pressed rapeseed oil, also known as canola oil in the United States.
As it's less processed than most seed oils, Oatly's rapeseed oil likely retains more of its beneficial nutrients, including vitamin E and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids.
Just 1 cup (240 mL) of Oatly Original Oatmilk provides:
- Calories: 120
- Fat: 5 grams
- Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
- Carbs: 16 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 7 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
- Calcium: 20% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin B12: 50% of the DV
- Vitamin D: 25% of the DV
The vitamin B12 content is particularly notable, as this essential vitamin is sometimes lacking in vegan and vegetarian diets.
While Oatly doesn't add sugar to its products, oat milk contains small amounts of natural sugars from oat starches that are broken down during the manufacturing process.
This is true for many other oat milk products on this list.
Shop for Oatly Original Oatmilk online.
2. Best Budget Option: Silk Oat Yeah Oatmilk (Plain)
Price: $
Silk's Oat Yeah Oatmilk is one of the cheapest oat milk products that's widely available.
Its balanced flavor isn't overly sweet, and its smooth texture resembles that of soy milk. Thus, it's great for drinking on its own, as well as using in cooking and baking.
Just 1 cup (240 mL) of Silk's plain Oat Yeah Oatmilk offers:
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 3 grams
- Saturated fat: 0 grams
- Carbs: 11 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Sugar: 4 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Calcium: 35% of the DV
- Vitamin B12: 100% of the DV
- Vitamin D: 20% of the DV
As you can see, a single serving packs all of your daily vitamin B12 needs. What's more, its ratio of calcium and vitamin D is similar to what's found in fortified dairy milk.
While Silk Oat Yeah Oatmilk harbors more ingredients and additives than many other products on this list, it's still one of the best options for the price.
Shop for plain Silk Oat Yeah Oatmilk online.
3. Best Gluten-Free: Oatly Low Fat Oatmilk
Price: $
While several oat milk companies claim to be gluten-free, Oatly is currently the only major brand in the United States that's been certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).
What's more, their low fat oatmilk has a relatively short ingredient list that's free of added gums and thickeners. Unlike other Oatly products, it doesn't contain added oils.
One cup (240 mL) provides:
- Calories: 91
- Fat: 1 gram
- Saturated fat: 0 grams
- Carbs: 16 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 7 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
- Calcium: 20–25% of the DV
- Phosphorus: 20–25% of the DV
- Vitamin A: 20–25% of the DV
- Vitamin B12: 50% of the DV
- Vitamin D: 20–25% of the DV
Unlike Oatly's Original product, their low fat option is thinner and closer in consistency to low fat dairy milk.
Shop for Oatly Low Fat Oatmilk online.
4–5. Best Organic Oat Milks
While all types of oats are nutritious, whole grain foods, some people are concerned about chemical pesticides and fertilizers used on conventional oat crops.
Levels of chemical residues on oats regularly test below the safety limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Still, organic oats are less likely to contain high levels of these residues.
4. Oatsome Oat Milk Original
Price: $
Oatsome Oat Milk Original is not only organic but also free of gums, thickeners, and stabilizers.
Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides:
- Calories: 130
- Fat: 3 grams
- Saturated fat: 0 grams
- Carbs: 21 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Sugar: 13 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Calcium: 20% of the DV
- Riboflavin (vitamin B6): 40% of the DV
- Vitamin B12: 40% of the DV
- Vitamin D: 10% of the DV
While lauded for its creamy texture, it's one of the more expensive options on the market.
Shop for Oatsome Oat Milk Original online.
5. Pacific Foods Original Oat Plant-Based Beverage, Reduced Sugar
Price: $
Pacific Foods is a respected food company that uses as many locally sourced and organic ingredients as possible.
Their organic, reduced sugar oat original plant-based beverage is certified organic and non-GMO. Additionally, it has a minimal ingredient list that's free of added sugars.
Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides:
- Calories: 130
- Fat: 2.5 grams
- Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
- Carbs: 23 grams
- Fiber: less than 1 gram
- Sugar: 3 grams
- Protein: 4 grams
This organic oat beverage also has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that's a bit thinner than other oat milk options. As a result, it's best enjoyed on its own as a beverage or used in cooking and baking.
While one of the lowest sugar options, some reviewers find the beverage to have a slightly gritty texture.
Shop for Pacific Foods Original Oat Plant-Based Beverage, Reduced Sugar online.
6–7. Best Oat Milks for Drinking
The best oat milks for drinking are creamy — but not too thick — and aren't overly sweet.
6. Planet Oat Original
Price: $
If you like the consistency of 2% milk, Planet Oat Original is a great choice because it's free of added oils and quite low in natural sugars.
A single cup (240 mL) offers:
- Calories: 90
- Fat: 1.5 grams
- Saturated fat: 0 grams
- Carbs: 19 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 4 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Calcium: 25% of the DV
- Vitamin D: 20% of the DV
Like Oatly, Planet Oat uses a stabilizer called dipotassium phosphate that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems safe.
However, frequent intake of foods containing this additive may harm kidney health, especially in people with pre-existing kidney disease.
While small amounts of dipotassium phosphate shouldn't be concerning, you may want to choose a different oat milk if you have kidney issues.
Shop for Planet Oat original oatmilk online.
7. Califia Farms Unsweetened Oatmilk
Price: $
Califia Farms Unsweetened Oatmilk isn't overly sweet and strikes the right balance between smooth and creamy.
As it tends to separate when added to coffee, it's best consumed on its own or with cereal.
Just 1 cup (240 mL) contains:
- Calories: 130
- Fat: 7 grams
- Saturated fat: 1 gram
- Carbs: 15 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Sugar: 4 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Calcium: 20% of the DV
Although this oat milk is free of gums and stabilizers, it's higher in fat than many other products.
This fat comes from sunflower oil, which is high in omega-6 fatty acids.
Research suggests that diets high in omega-6s but low in omega-3s may increase chronic inflammation in your body. Over time, this may raise your risk of chronic ailments like heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.
If you choose this oat milk, you may want to limit your intake of other vegetable oils high in omega-6s, such as soybean, safflower, cottonseed, and corn oil.
Shop for Califia Farms Unsweetened Oatmilk online.
8–9. Best Oat Milks for Coffee
Many oat milk brands offer barista blends designed to steam and froth for drinks like lattés and cappuccinos.
These products are often creamier than regular oat milks to provide a gourmet, coffee-shop quality.
8. Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend
Price: $
While Califia Farms' unsweetened product isn't the best for coffee, its Barista Blend gets great reviews for its frothing ability and sweet, oaty flavor.
Notably, it's also free of gums and stabilizers.
One cup (240 mL) contains:
- Calories: 130
- Fat: 7 grams
- Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
- Carbs: 14 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 3 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
Shop for Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend online.
9. Minor Figures Oat Milk Barista
Price: $
Created by baristas in London, Minor Figures Oat Milk Barista is designed to be great for foaming or steaming.
It works well for your morning latté but can also be used in baking and even poured over cereal, as its texture isn't overly thick.
Additionally, it's free of gums, thickeners, and stabilizers.
Just 1 cup (240 mL) offers:
- Calories: 116
- Fat: 5 grams
- Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
- Carbs: 23 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Sugar: 11 grams
- Protein: 0.5 grams
10–11. Best for Cooking and Baking
While most oat milks can be used for cooking and baking, some are better than others due to their thickness and flavor.
10. Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats
Price: $
Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats is a low sugar, mild oat milk that's made with just filtered water, oats, and salt.
It's not ideal for drinking or adding to coffee since it's thinner than many other oat milks. Keep in mind that some consumers mention a slight gritty texture.
Still, it's one of the best options if you're used to baking or cooking with skim or low fat dairy milk.
Only 1 cup (240 mL) contains:
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 1.5 grams
- Saturated fat: 0 grams
- Carbs: 14 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 1 gram
- Protein: 4 grams
Shop for Elmhurst Unsweetened Milked Oats online.
11. Chobani Plain Extra Creamy Oat Milk
Price: $
Unlike Elmhurst's product above, Chobani's Plain Extra Creamy Oat Milk has a consistency much closer to whole milk.
Its slightly sweet taste and thick, creamy texture add a rich mouthfeel and flavor to baked goods. It can also help thicken soups.
While it contains a small number of additives, it uses organic oats and doesn't have artificial flavors or preservatives.
One cup (240 mL) provides:
- Calories: 120
- Fat: 9 grams
- Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
- Carbs: 11 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 8 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
Shop for Chobani Plain Extra Creamy Oat Milk online.
12–13. Best Flavored
Flavored varieties like chocolate or vanilla oat milk can make nice treats or desserts, though you should keep in mind that they're often high in sugar.
These flavored options are lower in sugar than many of their competitors.
12. Elmhurst Milked Oats Chocolate
Price: $
Elmhurst Milked Oats Chocolate is your best bet if you're looking for a plant-based chocolate milk.
One serving offers just 4 grams of sugar from natural cane sugar.
Elmhurst's chocolate product doesn't contain any added gums, thickeners, or stabilizers. Instead, it's made from just six basic ingredients — water, oats, cane sugar, cocoa powder, natural flavors, and salt.
Just 1 cup (240 mL) provides:
- Calories: 110
- Fat: 2 grams
- Saturated fat: 0.5 grams
- Carbs: 19 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Sugar: 4 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
Shop for Elmhurst Milked Oats Chocolate online.
13. Planet Oat Vanilla Oatmilk
Price: $
Plant Oats Vanilla Oatmilk has a distinct vanilla flavor without any added sugars — just naturally occurring oat sugar.
One cup (240 mL) contains:
- Calories: 90
- Fat: 1.5 grams
- Saturated fat: 0 grams
- Carbs: 19 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Sugar: 4 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
Keep in mind that this product has a few additives, such as gellan gum and dipotassium phosphate.
14. Best Blended Option: Mooala Organic Coconut Oat Milk
Price: $
Mooala is a Texas-based company with a line of dairy-free milk alternatives, including their Coconut Oat Milk.
Its consistency is similar to 2% milk, and its hint of coconut differentiates it from most products on the market. It's also one of the only sugar-free options available.
Moreover, the product doesn't need any added oils to make it rich and smooth because it contains coconut cream.
Organic oats, organic cinnamon, sea salt, calcium carbonate, and gellan gum are also on the ingredient list.
One cup (240 mL) provides:
- Calories: 50
- Fat: 3.5 grams
- Saturated fat: 3 grams
- Carbs: 5 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Sugar: 0 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Calcium: 30% of the DV
Shop for Mooala organic coconut oat milk online.
A Note on Availability
As of this article's publication, the product above is sold out. If you're interested in this oat milk, continue to check the link above for the latest availability information from the retailer.
How to Choose a Healthy Oat Milk Product
When looking for a healthy oat milk product, it's important to take a look at the ingredient list.
Ideally, opt for a product with a short ingredient list that's low in both added sugar and additives like thickeners, stabilizers, gums, and artificial flavorings and colors.
Keep in mind that many oat milks contain natural sugars because oats' starches are broken down by enzymes during the manufacturing process.
Finally, if you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, only choose products that are certified gluten-free. While oats are naturally gluten-free, there's still a risk of cross-contamination with other grains.
The Bottom Line
Oat milk is a popular plant-based beverage that's enjoyed for its slightly sweet, oaty flavor and creamy consistency.
While numerous options abound, the healthiest ones tend to be low in sugar and additives.
It's also surprisingly easy and inexpensive to make oat milk at home.
Reposted with permission from Healthline. For detailed source information, please view the original article on Healthline.
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By Kang-Chun Cheng
Modoc County lies in the far northeast corner of California, and most of its 10,000 residents rely on cattle herding, logging, or government jobs for employment. Rodeos and 4-H programs fill most families' calendars; massive belt buckles, blue jeans, and cowboy hats are common attire. Modoc's niche brand of American individualism stems from a free-spirited cowboy culture that imbues the local ranching conflict with wild horses.
The History of Horse Management
<p>Before the 1950s, feral horses were largely unregulated in the U.S. They were released, grazed, captured, killed, sold, and otherwise <a href="http://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/WHB-Report-2020-NewCover-051920-508.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">managed by local inhabitants</a> as they saw fit. Around that time, Velma Bronn Johnston, aka "Wild Horse Annie," started raising public awareness of the "perceived inhumane capture and treatment of free-ranging herds."</p><p>Thanks in part to Johnston's efforts, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was signed into law by President Nixon in 1971. It declared that the animals "shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this, they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands."</p><p><a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/341/6148/847.full" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This act</a> has been amended four times since its conception to accommodate the fluctuating opinions and conditions around maintaining a "thriving natural ecological balance on the public lands"—an admirable although highly subjective goal. Achieving it involves juggling competing interests: those of local residents, permanent grazers, hunters and fishers, advocacy groups, conservationists, and Indigenous tribes.</p><p>The Bureau of Land Management must manage these many conflicting interests. Modoc County's <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wild-horse-burro/territories/DevilsGardenPlateau.shtml" target="_blank">Devil's Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory</a> epitomizes the challenges of this task. Officially deemed wild horse territory, the garden consists of 258,000 acres and is wholly within permitted livestock allotments. It is also home to wildlife such as cougar, antelope, migratory birds, and aquatic species dependent on delicate high-desert riparian areas.</p><p>The presence of wild horses has been shown to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014019631530094X" target="_blank">decrease native wildlife species diversity</a> for both birds and mammals. Pronghorn antelope are an icon in Western grasslands, known for their annual 350-mile migration along historic routes estimated to be 5,800 years old. This awe-inspiring trek is one of the longest large-mammal migration corridors remaining in North America, but 75% of <a href="http://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2004.00548.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pronghorn migration routes</a> have already been lost because of disturbances from the accelerated leasing of public lands and energy development. Horses also affect the pronghorn's yearly migrations by <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014019631630218X" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">monopolizing watering holes</a>, thus preventing native species from drinking.</p>Indigenous Support for Ecological Balance
<p>Ken Sandusky, a public information officer who has worked for the Forest Service in Modoc County for 13 years, lives by his station's mission statement: "Caring for the Land and Serving People." In his work, Sandusky aims to include the broad range of stakeholders and often acts as a tribal liaison. Sandusky himself is a member of the Choctaw tribe of Oklahoma, but as a Modoc native, is more culturally in touch with the local Klamath tribe.</p><p>When it comes to rangeland health, he says, there's a tangible split in what that actually means. "It depends on what you are measuring the outcome against," Sandusky explains. Range managers may perceive progress from a year-to-year basis, but to many Indigenous tribes, the baseline for "progress" goes back generations, to pre-contact times. "They have long memories," he says. "Tribes see damage that is a hundred-plus years in the making."</p>A Willingness to Try New Things
<p>"Americans don't know what's happening on these lands," says Suzanne Roy, the executive director of the American Wild Horse Campaign, an advocacy organization. The Bureau of Land Management, she says, "is run by and for the livestock industry. They come from a ranching background. The term 'rangeland' management itself illustrates how livestock management is the dominant perspective."</p><p>Roy is particularly concerned about how resources are being allocated: "Policies of land management agencies don't reflect the desires and interests of the public." To illustrate, most Americans associate public lands with national parks and environmental conservation; only 29% of respondents to a recent poll considered livestock grazing an acceptable use of those lands.</p><p>Grazing on public lands certainly aligns with the financial interests of cattle ranchers and helps explain why they insist on increased wild horse management. Cattle can <a href="http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21232.pdf" target="_blank">graze on public lands</a> for $1.35 per animal per month, while grazing on comparable private land costs ranchers $23 per animal per month (American taxpayer dollars make up the difference). To be fair, though, small-scale ranching would not be viable without public lands.</p><p>The campaign hopes to work toward more equitable resource allocation and improvements to overall habitats for horses and wildlife generally. "There are workable solutions to this issue," Roy says. "Common pushback from rangers is that new conservation strategies will 'destroy our way of life,' but change doesn't have to be bad."</p><p>The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0362331994900264" target="_blank">social conservatism</a> intrinsic to human cultures makes change seem daunting and people reluctant to try new tactics even in the face of suboptimal systems. Roy uses a case in adjacent Marin County to illustrate: Until 2001, the county ran a USDA program focused on killing apex predators (e.g. coyotes, mountain lions, and cougars) in defense of livestock. Unfortunately, this strategy fails to take into account the science of predators. Killing one mountain lion, for example, creates a vacuum and will eventually lead to increased competition for this newly available territory. In 2001, Marin introduced a country-run program that promoted nonlethal methods such as fox lights, guard dogs, and fladry to deal with predator incidents while compensating ranchers for sheep and lambs lost to predation.</p><p>Ranchers were initially livid, concerned that bans on shooting and trapping hindered their rights, making them defenseless against livestock predation. But 15 years later, a majority agreed that this form of humane <a href="http://www.projectcoyote.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Camilla-Fox-Thesis-FINAL-January-2008.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">adaptive management </a>has successfully reduced both livestock losses and the total number of predators. Ensuring its continued success, the program requires active participation on behalf of all stakeholders and long-term commitment from the local government for support.</p><p>As one fifth-generation sheepherder, Gowan Batiste, explained in an interview to the <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mendocino-county-rancher-and-others-calling-for-non-lethal-wildlife-management/ar-BB16CJ8g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ukiah Daily Journal,</a> "Livestock is a food of desperation for predators; the more you harass them and make life difficult for them, the more likely they are going to come into conflict with humans."</p>Keeping Wild Horses in Check
<p>When it comes to wild horses, many solutions are already in the works. Through annual autumn wild horse roundups, known as gathers, the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals has become one of the U.S.'s most successful adoption sites. The California Cattlemen's Association, a nonprofit trade association and organization popular among ranchers in Modoc, urges its members to support the wild horse gathers in Devils Garden, saying they are humane, good for the horses themselves (since competition for scarce water and forage resources may instigate aggression and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1981.tb01930.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">herd violence</a>), and necessary to support local ranchers and Modoc's agriculture-reliant economy.</p><p>Another popular solution for controlling wild horse populations is a fertility-control vaccine called PZP, given to female horses on the range <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur7w3UPTCsk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">using dart guns</a>. Mares are tracked on foot or with game cameras while drones are used to locate more elusive herds. The PZP vaccine has been endorsed by the American Wild Horse Campaign as the "<a href="https://americanwildhorsecampaign.org/fertility-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">most promising strategy</a>" for managing wild horses in their habitats and is also recommended by the National Academy of Sciences. Importantly, a dose of the vaccine only costs $30.</p><p>Lastly, land acquisition and <a href="https://americanwildhorsecampaign.org/equitable-share-resources" target="_blank">grazing lease buyouts</a> can promote equitable sharing of public lands and available forage. Acquiring key pieces of land adjacent to or within federally designated wild horse habitat areas can reduce conflicts over resource allocation.</p>A Global Search for Solutions
<p>Pastoralists all over the world face similar land-use conflicts, despite huge variations in climate and culture. The ongoing situation across rural California resonates with that of Fulani cattle herders in Niger and Sami reindeer herders in the Arctic.</p><p>Herders everywhere are accused of having too many animals or are perceived as selfish and irresponsible by their own communities. Overgrazing is certainly an issue, but it's not simply the number of animals that matters: The <a href="https://savory.global/holistic-management/" target="_blank">amount of time</a> animals spend in a certain area is critical to rangeland health. And in the context of such allegations, the ecological value of grazing is frequently omitted. Grazers, both wild and domestic, <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/food-everyone/2019/02/04/restoring-the-range-can-beef-be-earth-friendly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">are key to regulating soil health and allowing for species diversity and coverage, </a>as well as efficient carbon sequestration.</p><p>Part of the problem in these heated grazing debates is that moderate viewpoints are drowned out by extremist agendas—those who prioritize wild horse populations at all costs and those who want all of the horses gone, period. "The majority of people don't really have strong views about the horses," Sandusky says. "But the ones who do can get really into it." These unwavering views make it difficult to find compromises that account for all stakeholders.</p><p>"There is no biological problem, merely a social one," says professor Nicholas Tyler, a pastoralism expert at the University of Tromsø in northern Norway. Tyler maintains that in the case of horses and cattle in the West, as with so many others, the so-called equilibria argument is specious and quasi-biological. "Certainly a lot of horses will influence the species composition," he says. "Remove the horses, things change. Add horses, things change again. There is nothing magical about that."</p><p>But Tyler takes it one step further: "There never was, is, or will be a balance. There are shifting equilibria, which is something quite different," he says. "It is up to the community to decide which state of that equilibrium it prefers."</p>- Horses Might Stop the Permafrost From Melting - EcoWatch ›
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<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f426ed5154f3133a6f8cb5d8d39cf211"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k34FhplukXQ?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>This doc follows environmental photographer James Balog on his quest to portray Americans on the frontlines of climate change whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by the collision between people and nature. Balog captures how the four elements of earth, water, air and fire are being transformed by a fifth element — the human element — and what that means for our future.</p>4. Before the Flood (2016)
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="619d7c35d25e9cfc6e239bc1bd7d1ea2"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D9xFFyUOpXo?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>In <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/leonardo-dicaprio-before-the-flood-2057070140.html">this doc</a>, actor Leonardo DiCaprio teams up with National Geographic to travel the globe and witness the effects of global warming that are already visible, such as rising sea levels and deforestation. Featuring prominent figures such as Barack Obama, Ban Ki-moon, Pope Francis and Elon Musk, the doc offers solutions for a sustainable future and shows how we can challenge climate change deniers.</p>5. Tomorrow (2015)
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8fdcf7de6bd422b6ab96134ce49366d9"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NUN0QxRB7e0?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Need an optimistic view on how to tackle the climate crisis? Then this upbeat French doc seeking out creative alternatives to our current form of agriculture, energy supply and waste management is for you. It introduces everyday sustainability innovators from across the world, such as urban gardeners and renewable energy enthusiasts, to inspire the rest of us to make local changes</p>6. Racing Extinction (2015)
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6ec29ed8282004cb6ccc6e0eae7de1ae"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MwxyrLUdcss?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>In this film by Oscar-winning director Louie Psihoyos, a team of activists expose the illegal trade of endangered species and document the global extinction crisis, which could result in the loss of half of all species. By using covert tactics and state-of-the-art technology, they take you to places where no one can go, uncover secrets and show you images you have never seen before.</p>7. Virunga (2014)
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6922c47a9603f24dd431f6e5282f7cb5"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wxXf2Vxj_EU?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the only places in the world where you can still find wild mountain gorillas. But the park and its inhabitants are under attack from poachers, armed militias and companies wanting to exploit natural resources. This gripping doc follows a group of people trying to preserve the park and protect these magnificent great apes.</p>8. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014)
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9b7e7a93c26b3a3fc4f8a8374d98e2f2"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nV04zyfLyN4?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>This crowdfunded documentary explores the impact of animal agriculture on the environment and investigates why the world's leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it. The film has caused controversy by suggesting that animal agriculture is the primary source of environmental destruction and the main emitter of greenhouse gases, rather than fossil fuels.</p>9. Years of Living Dangerously (2014)
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="585f966df408ae57e3e31747a6c0a66b"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/juXzfwvVHZQ?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>In this Emmy-winning documentary series, celebrity correspondents travel the world to interview experts and scientists on the climate crisis and its effects. But rather than focusing on its star power, the two-season series also shines a spotlight on ordinary people affected by the climate crisis and shows how we can save our world for future generations.</p>- 20 Instagram Accounts for Environmental Inspiration - EcoWatch ›
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By Victoria Masterson
Using one of the world's problems to solve another is the philosophy behind a Norwegian start-up's mission to develop affordable housing from 100% recycled plastic.
Sustainable Homes
<p>UN-Habitat says an <a href="https://unhabitat.org/un-habitat-aims-to-use-plastic-waste-to-support-housing-for-all" target="_blank">estimated 60% of people living in urban areas of Africa are in informal settlements</a>. At the same time, between 1990 and 2017, African countries imported around 230 metric tonnes of plastic, "which mostly ended up in dump sites creating a massive environmental challenge," the agency adds.</p><p>UN-Habitat deputy executive director, Victor Kisob, said the aim of the partnership with Othalo was to "promote adequate, sustainable and affordable housing for all."</p>Artist's impression of an Othalo community, imagined by architect Julien De Smedt. Othalo
<p>Othalo's process involves shredding plastic waste and mixing it with other elements, including non-flammable materials. Components are used to build up to four floors, with a home of 60 square metres using eight tons of recycled plastic. A factory with one production line can produce 2,800 housing units annually.</p><p>Following successful laboratory tests, Othalo's factory in Estonia has started producing components to build three demonstration homes for Kenya's capital, Nairobi; Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon and Dakar, the capital of Senegal.</p><p>Othalo founder Frank Cato Lahti has been developing and testing the technology since 2016 in partnership with <a href="https://www.sintef.no/en/" target="_blank">SINTEF</a>, a 70-year-old independent research organization in Trondheim, Norway, and experts at Norway's <a href="https://en.uit.no/startsida" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">University of Tromsø</a>.</p>Othalo founder Frank Cato Lahti. Othalo
<p>Almost <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html" target="_blank">seven out of every 10 people in the world are expected to live in urban areas by 2050</a>. More than 90% of this growth will take place in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.</p><p>"In the absence of effective urban planning, the consequences of this rapid urbanization will be dramatic," UN-Habitat warns.</p><p>Lack of proper housing and growth of slums, inadequate and outdated infrastructure, escalating poverty and unemployment, and pollution and health issues, are just some of the effects.</p><p>Mindsets, policies, and approaches towards urbanization need to change for the growth of cities and urban areas to be turned into opportunities that will leave nobody behind, UN-Habitat says.</p>Pioneers of Change
<p>Reimagining cities and communities for greater resilience and sustainability was a key topic at the<a href="https://www.weforum.org/events/pioneers-of-change-summit-2020" target="_blank"> World Economic Forum's Pioneers of Change Summit 2020</a>.</p><p>The digital event brought together innovators and stakeholders from around the world to explore solutions to the challenges facing enterprises, governments and society.</p><p>Opening the summit, <a href="https://www.weforum.org/events/pioneers-of-change-summit-2020/sessions/opening-plenary-8f731cbc65" target="_blank">Stephan Mergenthaler, the Forum's Head of Strategic Intelligence and a member of the Executive Committee</a>, said: "We need to change the way we produce, the way we live and interact in our cities to make this transition to net-zero emissions a reality…</p><p>"And as this year has illustrated so dramatically, we need to make every effort that we keep populations healthy, if we want to avoid jeopardizing all this progress."</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from </em><em><a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/un-africa-recycled-plastic-housing/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</em><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2649069252#/" target="_self"></a></p>- What Happens to Recycled Plastic? Researchers Lift the Lid ... ›
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By Brett Wilkins
Despite acknowledging that the move would lead to an increase in the 500 million to one billion birds that die each year in the United States due to human activity, the Trump administration on Friday published a proposed industry-friendly relaxation of a century-old treaty that protects more than 1,000 avian species.
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Many people shop online for everything from clothes to appliances. If they do not like the product, they simply return it. But there's an environmental cost to returns.
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