This or That? Tea vs. Coffee, Sustainable Milk Choices, and the Truth About Bioplastics

Today’s "This or That" episode tackles some everyday decisions that might seem small, but when they add up, they make a big impact on the environment. We’ll be discussing tea vs. coffee, and which is worse for the environment, what the best and worst options are for the milk you use with your drink, and finally, what exactly are bioplastics? And, whether we should even be using them.

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Transcript

Kia ora kaitiaki and welcome to Now That's What I Call Green. I'm your host, Brianne West, an environmentalist and entrepreneur trying to get you as excited about our planet as I am. I'm all about creating a scientific approach to making the world a better place without the judgment and making it fun. And of course, we will be chatting about some of the most amazing creatures we share our planet with. So if you are looking to navigate through everything green or not so green, you have come to the right place.

Kia ora kaitiaki and welcome back. Today we have another This or That for you. These are some everyday decisions that might seem really small, but as we know, when they add up, they add up to a big impact on the environment. We’re looking at coffee versus tea, two of the world's biggest favorite drinks, and which one might be better for the planet. Then we're going to have a look at milk options for that tea or coffee—from dairy to oat and everything in between. Yeah, you probably know the answer to this one already. But then I'm going to have a chat about biodegradable plastics because so many people ask me about them. It's way more complicated than it sounds, but it's also way worse than you think it is.

So let's start easy with tea or coffee. I'm proud to say that I gave up coffee. I went on a retreat earlier this year, gave up coffee, and it turns out that actually it was having no impact on my life at all. It doesn't give me energy whatsoever. So I don't miss it, but I am English, so tea is in my blood—which is good because it turns out that tea is infinitely better for the environment than coffee is.

Coffee already has a reputation for having a heavier environmental impact. It's typically grown in tropical climates, its production often involves deforestation, high water use, and significant greenhouse gas emissions. To give you an idea, it takes about 140 liters of water to produce one cup of coffee. That accounts for growing, processing, and transportation of the beans. That one cup of coffee will also emit around 60 grams of carbon dioxide. On top of that, climate change is already affecting coffee production because yes, spoiler alert, climate change is already here.

Coffee is mainly grown as either Arabica or Robusta beans. Arabica, which is considered the higher quality coffee, is more sensitive to temperature changes because of course it is. As global temperatures rise and weather patterns become more unpredictable, it's getting harder and harder to grow this coffee in traditional regions. Studies predict that by 2050, which is really not that far away, about half of the land currently used for coffee farming will be unsuitable for growing those beans. Farmers will need to switch to more resilient species like Robusta, but that comes with its own environmental challenges—and unfortunately, challenges for your palate.

If we look at tea, it has a much lighter footprint. Growing tea requires far less water—about 35 liters per cup, which is still massive, don't get me wrong, but way lower than coffee. Tea plantations don’t result in the same level of deforestation as coffee farms, and the emissions from tea are lower as well, typically around 20 grams of CO2 per cup. That’s about a third of what a cup of coffee produces. But of course, tea bags contain microplastics. So if you are choosing tea, loose leaf is the best option, or at least try and find plastic-free tea bags. I know that Trade Aid does them. If you're looking for a great tea leaf option, Picker’s Pocket, who are an Aotearoa-owned organization, are a fab choice because they use Fairtrade tea.

So, I mean, this one's easy. Tea is the clear winner—lower emissions, less water use, and fewer environmental impacts overall, especially if you go for loose leaf. And please, please, please, if you can, go for Fairtrade. It makes all the difference in the world. But if you really want to stick with coffee, you can still make a difference by choosing Fairtrade or shade-grown options, which help reduce deforestation and support more sustainable farming practices.

Okay, you have your tea or your coffee—what milk do you choose? If you drink your tea or coffee black, statistically, you're more likely to be a psychopath. No judgment, but just saying. But if you prefer milk, what is the most sustainable option?

Let’s talk about dairy first. Just because someone is talking about the environmental impact of an agricultural product does not mean they are anti-farmer. I have an incredible depth of respect for farmers. They quite literally produce the food we eat. They have an incredibly difficult job. But unfortunately, dairy is without question the worst milk option for the planet. Cow's milk is really resource-intensive, especially in terms of water and land use. Brace yourself—it takes about 1,050 liters of water to produce one liter of cow’s milk. And on top of that, dairy farming is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Agriculture is a huge contributor to climate change, mainly due to the methane produced by cows.

In terms of emissions, dairy milk produces about 3.2 kgs of carbon dioxide per liter. There are also concerns about fertilizer runoff from dairy farms, which if you're from Aotearoa, you'll be very familiar with, because a lot of our freshwater systems have nitrate problems. This is caused by fertilizer runoff from farms, leading to nutrient pollution in waterways, causing algal blooms, and harming aquatic ecosystems. Nitrates in water are actually very bad for you and are potentially one of the reasons bowel cancer rates are increasing too.

Now, I won’t go through every milk option here, but oat milk takes the crown. It has a low water footprint, minimal emissions, and fewer land-use concerns. Soy milk is probably a close runner-up, but definitely check that sourcing. As for almond and dairy milk—if you can, skip them.

Finally, the big one for today: bioplastics. There's a lot of buzz around bioplastics and people are getting really excited, but frankly, it's just another form of greenwashing and it's driving me mad. Let’s break it down—a pun because of course that’s what plastic doesn’t do.

Normal plastics are made from fossil fuels, like natural gas, which is non-renewable and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The big issue is what happens after we use them. Normal plastic takes hundreds of years to break down, and of course, it doesn’t really break down—it breaks up into microplastics. Bioplastics are often marketed as being better for the planet, but they’re not. Many of them don’t break down in the natural environment, and even those that do still release microplastics if they're not decomposed properly.

So this one isn’t really a this or that—it's not bioplastics versus traditional plastics, it’s no plastic at all. Because bioplastics are not the solution to our plastic problem—they’re just a different kind of plastic with a cute green label slapped on. It is classic greenwashing. The best thing we can do is reduce our reliance on single-use plastic altogether. Get your reusables, recycle when you can, and focus on home-compostable materials where possible. But even if it is compostable, single-use is still not a good option. Don't get fooled by the bio in bioplastic. It’s still plastic, and it’s all a big scam.

So there you have it. Short and sweet episode today. I'm going to go enjoy an oat milk tea—in a normal cup, of course, not a disposable cup. As always, remember: it’s not about being perfect. Once you know better, you can do better. Our individual choices aren’t going to save the planet, sure, but they do make a difference. Action is the antidote to apathy.

I have a very special guest next week—an incredible adventurer and a BBC presenter who loves snakes. How can you not love someone who loves snakes? See you next week!

Kia ora. If you enjoyed this episode, please don’t keep it to yourself. Drop me a rating and hit the subscribe button. Kia ora, and I’ll see you next week!