Herbivore® is a premium plant-based butter start-up born out of a desire to provide an alternative to dairy butter, without compromise on taste, texture or performance.
With a growing shift towards conscious consumption, we know both consumers and chefs are looking for premium dairy butter alternatives that are healthy, tasty, dairy-free, vegan and keto-friendly.
Interested to learn more? For information on where Herbivore® is made and how the production compares to traditional dairy butter see our FAQs.
Coconut butter produces significantly less carbon in comparison to dairy butter.
Each coconut tree sequesters between 18 to 28 kg of carbon every year.
Coconut plantations act as a carbon sink, removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Coconut butter produces around a quarter of the emissions of dairy butter from most European countries.
Plant-based butter? So what is Herbivore® made of?
Our butter is made from 67% Coconut Oil, as well as the following ingredients: Water, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Milk Powder, Sea Salt, Emulsifiers (Mono and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Sunflower Lecithin), Flavouring, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Natural Colour (Beta Carotene).
Where is Herbivore® made?
Our manufacturing partner is based in the Philippines where the coconuts used in Herbivore® are sourced. They are a member of the Sustainable Coconut Partnership[1] and signatory of the Sustainable Coconut Charter[2].
Do coconut plantations really sequester carbon?
Of course! Being a tree, the coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) uses photosynthesis to grow and produce its fruit, studies have shown an individual tree can sequester between 18 to 28 kg of carbon per tree per year[3].
How does Herbivore® compare to traditional dairy butter on greenhouse gas emissions?
Existing scientific research shows that the manufacture of coconut oil based products produce a significantly lower amount of greenhouse gas emissions measured against their dairy-based alternatives.
In fact, a kilogram of coconut oil produces around half of the CO2e compared to dairy butter produced in New Zealand[4][5].
When compared to other producers the results are even more impressive, with coconut oil producing around a quarter of the emissions of dairy butter from most European countries[6].
As well as undertaking a review of existing research we are committed to undertaking specific lifecycle assessment (LCA) on our Herbivore® butter.
And other environmental impacts?
Coconut farming is typically low input with the use of pesticides, fertiliser and irrigation systems being kept to a minimum, this contrasts heavily with the high water and fertiliser use seen on dairy farms[7].
Do coconut plantations contribute to deforestation?
Deforestation is a significant issue in the Philippines, with multiple factors driving it, including agricultural expansion, logging, mining, population growth, and illegal activities. Many coconut plantations, including those we source from are well established and typically on marginal land, so while the coconut industry may contribute to deforestation in some areas, it is not the primary driver of deforestation in the country. In contrast, the palm oil industry has been responsible for significant deforestation in neighbouring Indonesia.
