Butter made from cows’ milk may soon have a cruelty-free alternative, thanks to a California-based startup called Savor. This company, backed by Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, has developed a unique process that creates dairy-free butter from air, promising a taste that rivals the real thing.
Savor has been working on creating dairy-free alternatives for ice cream, cheese, and milk using a thermochemical process that builds fat molecules from carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen. Their latest innovation is a butter alternative that aims to have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional animal-based butter.
The potential environmental impact of Savor’s CO2-based butter is impressive. While traditional unsalted butter with 80% fat has a climate footprint of around 2.4g CO2 equivalent per calorie, Savor’s butter could come in at less than 0.8g CO2 equivalent per calorie. This reduction in greenhouse gas emissions could make a significant contribution to lowering humanity’s overall environmental impact.
Kathleen Alexander, the CEO of Savor, has stated that the company is still in the pre-commercial stage and is working on obtaining regulatory approval to bring their butter alternative to market. Sales are not expected to begin until at least 2025, as they navigate the complexities of the food industry.
While meat and dairy alternatives have gained popularity in recent years, taste has often been a sticking point for consumers. Savor claims that their butter alternative has a taste that closely resembles traditional butter, thanks to extensive taste panels with consumers. Formal taste testing will be conducted as part of the company’s efforts to scale up production and bring their product to market.
Despite the potential benefits of Savor’s CO2-based butter, convincing consumers to switch from traditional dairy products to a synthetic alternative may prove challenging. However, Bill Gates has voiced his support for the initiative, highlighting the environmental benefits of lab-made fats and oils. These products have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, require less water and land, and offer a taste that is comparable to traditional dairy.
The livestock industry, which includes dairy and meat production, is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. By offering a sustainable, cruelty-free alternative to traditional butter, Savor is taking a step towards reducing the environmental impact of food production. As consumers become more conscious of the environmental footprint of their food choices, innovative solutions like CO2-based butter may play a key role in shaping the future of the food industry.