Do vegan alternatives have environmental problems too?
Summary
Yes, some plant foods carry real environmental costs -- almonds are water-intensive, avocados drive deforestation in parts of Mexico, and imported tropical produce has a shipping footprint. However, life-cycle analyses consistently show that even the highest-impact plant foods typically produce lower greenhouse gas emissions, use less land, and cause less water pollution than the animal products they replace.
Evidence Summary
No food is impact-free, and honest engagement with veganism requires acknowledging the environmental costs of plant-based alternatives rather than pretending they do not exist. ## Water use: the almond question Almond milk has become a lightning rod for criticism. California almonds require roughly 3.2 litres of water per almond, and the state produces about 80 percent of the global supply during persistent drought conditions (Fulton et al., 2019). This is a legitimate concern.