LCas at Oatly - Oatly Creamy Oat vs. Dairy Cream.
According to the recent LCA commissioned in 2024, Oatly Creamy Oat has a lower climate impact than comparable dairy cooking cream produced in Sweden and sold in Sweden and Finland. To be more precise, between 61% to 72% lower climate impact. Looking at the other environmental impact categories analyzed (besides climate change that was fine particulate matter, terrestrial acidification, freshwater & marine eutrophication, land use, land occupation, mineral resource scarcity, fossil resource scarcity & Water consumption) Oatly Creamy Oats has a consistently lower impact than comparable dairy cooking cream in both Sweden and Finland.
What is an LCA?
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is conducted according to a specific methodology and is a systematic analysis of the potential environmental impacts of a specific product or service produced and consumed in a specific geography, including various stages of that life cycle (aka the “system boundary”).
:format(webp))
Why do an LCA?
Oatly commissions LCAs to compare the environmental performance of specific products produced and sold in specific markets to comparable cow’s dairy, as well as to be able to identify opportunities to reduce our environmental impact with respect to the analysed product/markets.
How was the Oatly Creamy Oat LCA done?
Oatly engaged Blonk Consultants, a leading international expert in food system sustainability, to conduct a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the environmental performance of Oatly Creamy Oat to comparable dairy cooking cream sold in Sweden & Finland. The Life Cycle stages assessed included raw material to point of sale and packaging waste management.
The LCA was conducted according to the iterative, multi-step methodology proposed in ISO 14040 and 14044 LCA methodological standards (ISO 14040, 2006; ISO 14044, 2006), which included a review panel of four independent and qualified reviewers, reflecting a balanced combination of qualifications (LCA, dairy, nutrition) and backgrounds (academic, research institute, non-governmental organisation).
Oatly Creamy Oat vs. Dairy Cream
:format(webp))
In Sweden, Oatly Creamy Oat (chilled iMat, 250ml) has a 61% lower climate impact than comparable Dairy cooking cream (13% fat).
In Finland, Oatly Creamy Oat (chilled iMat, 250ml) has a 71% lower climate impact than comparable Dairy cooking cream (15% fat).
In Sweden, Oatly Creamy Oat (chilled iMat, 1L) has a 62% lower climate impact than comparable Dairy cooking cream (13% fat).
In Finland, Oatly Creamy Oat (chilled iMat, 1L) has a 72% lower climate impact than comparable Dairy cooking cream (15% fat).
:format(webp))
For more details, check out the reports on Blonk's website here.
WANT TO DISCUSS THIS MORE?
GO HERE.
SOURCES
Blonk Consultants (2024), LCA of Oatly Creamy Oat and comparison with dairy cooking cream. Stages include raw material to point of sale and packaging waste management for average L produced and sold in Sweden.
Findings are subject to assumptions, limitations, conclusions, and critical review statements.
Blonk Consultants (2024), LCA of Oatly Creamy Oat and comparison with dairy cooking cream – for the Finnish market. Stages include raw material to point of sale and packaging waste management for average L produced in Sweden and sold in Finland.
Findings are subject to assumptions, limitations, conclusions, and critical review statements.