We’re a Swedish food company that makes delicious products from oats, which in turn makes it easier for people to live lives that are less taxing on the planet and their bodies. The Swedish part may or may not be important, depending on what you think of Swedes. But the latter part—our bodies, our planet—is essential to our existence.

Nearly 70 percent of the world’s population has trouble digesting lactose. If you’re reading this and nodding along—and making audible “mmm-hmmm” sounds and saying things like “Preach!” and “I feel seen!”—you probably know what we’re talking about. 

Then there’s the planet. It’s in trouble. And part of that problem derives from a broken food system that recklessly taxes the world’s resources. The global food system is responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with about 50 percent of that coming from animal agriculture industries. We’ll spare you the list of incredibly depressing facts and the whole “cows producing methane” speech, but take our word for it … it’s bad. If you do want to hear the speech, please join one of our employees at their family Midsommar celebration, where after a few drinks they’ll inevitably give the whole “Dairy is Killing the Planet” TedTalk to their stubborn relatives. 

That’s why we can’t keep relying on the decades-old dairy industry to shove their little drinks and foods at us. Oatly, as you may have guessed from the name, is made from a super sustainable crop: oats. According to a recent study from our U.S. team, Oatly Original Oat Drink produced and sold in the U.S. has a 49 percent lower climate change impact and nearly 80 percent lower water consumption compared to comparable cow’s milk.