Nagpur: “Breastfeeding is not only vital for child and maternal health, it is also a powerful act of environmental protection,” claimed Dr Surabhi Sangwai, who runs the first-ever Lactation Counselling Centre in central India in Nagpur for the last five years.

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As the world observes World Breastfeeding Week 2025 from August 1, TOI spoke to her about the unique idea of this centre and how it functions. Founded in 2020, Dr Sangwai’s centre offers scientific lactation counselling, paediatric sleep medicine, infant feeding guidance, and maternal support. Dr Sangwai, who is also the founder of Vidarbha Lactation Professional Network and a member of BPNI and the Association of Lactation Professionals of India (ALPI), has been tirelessly working to build a community-based ecosystem where trained professionals can guide families in sustainable child-rearing practices.

“Not just urban mothers but also families from rural Vidarbha, including Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Bhandara, are our visitors. We see growing curiosity, but also growing confusion due to formula marketing. That’s where we step in to offer evidence-based counselling,” said Dr Sangwai.

“Unlike formula feeding, which leaves behind a massive carbon footprint, breastfeeding is a zero-waste, zero-carbon method of nurturing our future generations,” she explained the environmental connection.

Dr Sangwai said that industrial production of breastmilk substitutes generates enormous waste and greenhouse gas emissions. According to a report by IBFAN, India’s formula sales alone contribute over 1.1 lakh tonnes of GHG annually, while China emits over 22 lakh tonnes from the same industry.

“Breastfeeding, on the other hand, requires no packaging, no transportation, and no waste disposal. It is nature’s most efficient food system,” she said, quoting a 2016 Lancet study that universal breastfeeding could prevent over 6 lakh deaths globally each year.

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Dr Sangwai said that she still struggles with myths, social pressure, and lack of institutional support. “Many new mothers do not receive any breastfeeding counselling either in hospitals or after discharge,” says Dr Sangwai. She advocated for breastfeeding-friendly hospitals, workplace support, and robust maternity protection laws, alongside grassroots awareness campaigns. “We need everyone — families, employers, healthcare providers, and policymakers — to support breastfeeding.

Only then can we create a sustainable, equitable future for our children,” she said.

Quick Facts: Why Breastfeeding Matters

— Only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed globally

— Formula feeding adds significantly to climate change via emissions and waste

— 6 lakh infant deaths annually could be prevented with universal breastfeeding

— Breastfeeding reduces obesity, infections, diabetes, and cancer risks

— WHO calls for policy-level investment and community support to scale up breastfeeding