World Breastfeeding Week
This year the theme for World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is Prioritise Breastfeeding – Create Sustainable Support Systems. #WBW2025 will focus on the environment, and how we can support breastfeeding while also combatting climate change.
When we talk about breastfeeding, we often discuss how it helps babies, mothers, and parents physically and emotionally. Yet, have you considered how breastfeeding is part of the solution facing a warmer planet?
Breastfeeding uses fewer resources than formula, plus leads to fewer food miles and minimal waste. The production of unnecessary infant and toddler formulas contributes to environmental damage. Extreme weather events are becoming more common across Europe, including in Britain, leading to disruption of water and electricity supplies. During power cuts families find themselves unable to mix powdered formula milk or clean and sterilise bottles safely.
Human milk is part of the solution to the climate crisis. At the same time, support for breastfeeding, chestfeeding and human milk feeding is often lacking: and so making sure equitable support is available to all who need it is a crucial first step in ending the climate catastrophe. At LLL Collective we work on a daily basis to offer this support.
We also recognise that families not only often lack support but also choice. This is where evidenced-based peer support, like the support LLL Collective provides, plays a significant role. Sustainable support, much like a sustainable environment, is key. Without commercial interests, families are better able to meet their goals, which in turn, as we’re recognising for #WBW2025, also supports the planet.
Historically, World Breastfeeding Week honours the August 1990 signing of the Innocenti Declaration by government policymakers, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other organisations. The declaration paved the way for protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding globally, and led to the formation of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. WABA coordinates and organises WBW between Aug 1-7 every year (some countries celebrate in October and November, Scotland celebrates in June). La Leche League is a partner of WABA.
For WBW 2025 we are offering our acclaimed Equity in Breastfeeding webinar series at the reduced rate of £25! Sign up here.
Check out the Pledge Map to see what’s on in your area, and to add your own events. Tag us in your social media posts celebrating WBW, and consider sharing your photos of your WBW events.
The Global Breastfeeding Collective (of which La Leche League International are members) are hosting a free webinar for WBW on 7am Tuesday, 5 August 2025 and 4pm Wednesday, 6 August 2025.
More details and link to register can be found here.
Further reading on human milk and the environment:
Support for breastfeeding is an environmental imperative
Green Feeding: Breastfeeding for a Healthy Planet
Concerned About Environmental Contaminants? Your Milk Is Still Best for Your Baby
Make a Donation to Support Breastfeeding in Great Britain
We can do this work with donations from people like you. We appreciate your support so we can help more babies and families like yours. You can support us with a one-off donation via credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or bank transfer.