At the Factory
Introduction
Turning high quality milk into the nation’s best loved dairy products is what dairy processors do best, but of course as with everything, it comes with an environmental impact.
From pasteurisation to packing, to refrigeration and transportation – it takes a lot of energy and other inputs to ensure dairy products are made safely, to a high quality, and reach their final destinations securely, with minimal waste along each step of the way.
Dairy processors across the UK have been working incredibly hard over the last 15 years to improve the sustainability of the sector to ensure they can continue to produce the best quality products, with as little environmental footprint as possible.
To this end, through the Dairy Roadmap, processors have been setting themselves ambitious targets on measures from water reduction, to waste, to energy usage to recyclability – and have been meeting and even exceeding them.
The processing sector undergoes annual environmental benchmarking surveys each year, to monitor and assess their performance against Dairy Roadmap targets. Since 2018, UK dairy processors have achieved:
The processing sector undergoes annual environmental benchmarking surveys each year, to monitor and assess their performance against Dairy Roadmap targets. Since 2018, UK dairy processors have achieved:
20
INCREASE
in primary energy efficiency
(kWh/tonne)
17
DECREASE
in energy-related carbon per kg milk
(kg CO2/kg)
20
INCREASE
in water efficiency
(m3/tonne)
11
INCREASE
in raw effluent efficiency
(m3/tonne)
60
DECREASE
in COD density of released effluent
(kg/m3)
1.3
OF INPUTS
are lost as food waste
These figures not only hold the industry accountable to its environmental promises, but they provide transparency to those inside the industry and beyond as to the effectiveness of the sustainability measures being implemented, demonstrating genuine commitment to the environment.
But sustainability has no end point, and through continual improvement across all environmental metrics, dairy processors are always working to improve.
WATER
Dairy Roadmap Resources
Water is making headlines due to increasing demand and increasing variability in rainfall causing floods and droughts as a direct result of climate change. The UN predicts a 40% shortfall in global freshwater availability by 2030. Actions to improve water use efficiency are therefore incredibly important. Find out more about water reduction and reuse options from SUEZ and the Environment Agency in this Dairy Roadmap webinar.
Useful External Resources
World Health Organisation (WHO)
The WHO Safety and quality of water use and reuse in the production and processing of dairy products: meeting report
- The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) was asked to provide scientific advice regarding safe use and reuse of water in the dairy sector. JEMRA convened an online meeting from 14 June to 2 July 2021 to provide clear and practical guidance on risk-based approaches to assess and manage fit-for-purpose water sourcing, use and reuse in the dairy sector. This report describes the output of the meeting.
International Dairy Federation
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) have examined dairy wastewater and produced a report on technologies including anaerobic reactors to treat carbon pollution and produce biogas; membrane bioreactors and membrane filtration for treating wastewater; and producing water for reuse.
PACKAGING
Useful External Resources
European Dairy Association (EDA)
The EDA produced a factsheet in 2020 examining the rationale behind different packaging choices in the dairy sector.
SUPPORTING FARMERS
Dairy Roadmap Resources
How can we support our farmers to be more efficient? Is there a place for lean management? Find out more from Leprino Foods.
Useful External Resources
Kite
Whilst there are many climate risks which could have a significant economic impact on dairy farms, in this report Kite consider the costs and investment required to ensure UK dairy farms have the infrastructure and land required to maintain production and eliminate pollution risks in periods of extreme weather.
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero
This initiative brings dairy farmers and organisations throughout the dairy supply chain together to reduce the impact of the dairy sector on the planet. It aims to amplify the efforts and initiatives already in place and support action to reduce dairy’s emissions over the next 30 years.
ING
A Financial Perspective
ING have looked at emissions reductions commitments of major global companies globally and reported on progress so far, actions and funding required and the need for policies that can stimulate farmers to take action.
EMISSIONS REPORTING
Dairy Roadmap Resources
Legal Net Zero targets are looming and many organisations are adopting the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) as a way of setting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions targets in line with what is needed to keep global heating below catastrophic levels and reach net-zero by 2050 at the latest. Find out more from Kite, Arla and Cotteswold Dairy.
Useful External Resources
International Dairy Federation (IDF)
The IDF has published a global standard LCA methodology for the dairy sector, alongside a guide to calculate carbon sequestration in cattle production systems. These guides can be used to determine net emissions, or to support conversations with third party organisations calculating emissions on your behalf.