Royal A-ware strives for products with the highest possible nutritional value and the lowest possible impact on people, animals and the environment. We have developed a vision that relates environmental impact to the nutritional value of dairy products. We do this because we believe the social debate on protein transition ignores an important aspect: the nutritional value of dairy products.
Protein transition
Protein transition is now a familiar concept in the climate change debate. The environmental impact of dairy production is often linked to milk and cows. Less milk would be better for people, animals and the environment. We believe the nutritional value of dairy products, is such an important consideration in our opinion, is not sufficiently taken into account when determining the environmental impact.
Nutritional value
Various animal products provide high-quality proteins, important fatty acids and various vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy diet. Dairy is one of the main dietary sources of protein, calcium, zinc and vitamins B2, B12 and D. A variety of international studies confirm this. When a product with high CO₂ emissions per kilogram of product is replaced by another (plant-based) product with lower emissions, the climate impact per kilogram of product might decrease. But this ignores the nutritional value. If a substitute has lower nutritional value or is less well digested, a one-to-one comparison based on kg volume isn't equivalent.
The right information for consumers
Royal A-ware believes that the nutritional value of food products is currently not sufficiently taken into account when determining environmental impact. Expressing environmental impact per kilogram of product, without taking into account nutritional value, misleads consumers when choosing healthy and sustainable food. It is therefore important that this information is included in the labels on the packaging of all foods as soon as possible so that consumers can make an informed choice.
Dairy in all dietary guidelines
Royal A-ware, like the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, sees dairy continuing to have an important role to play, even as diets become more plant-based. Dairy products remain important because they provide a good and affordable way to get protein, calcium and vitamins. If a consumer replaces dairy with plant-based products, the risk of nutrient deficiencies increases, while the environmental impact remains nearly the same. Because more vegetable products must be consumed to take in the same level of vitamins and minerals. We therefore believe it is important for dairy to continue to hold a special position in all dietary guidelines.