Dairy Processing - January/February 2022 - 44

SUPPLY CHAIN
SUSTAINABLE
opportunities
Dairy processors can appeal to the large base of eco-conscious consumers
by emphasizing sustainability throughout their supply chains.
by Kristen Putch | kputch@sosland.com
I
n recent years there has been increasing pressure
on companies to demonstrate greater environmental
stewardship and social responsibility. This comes at a time
when the business case for sustainable operations grows
stronger every year.
Over the past 75 years, US dairy production has made
significant reductions in water and land use while drastically
reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-but consumers
and investors want more from the industry.
" As the dairy industry has made significant improvements
over the last several decades to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions on the farm and at the processing plant, while at the
same time increasing productivity and protecting our natural
resources - that's no longer enough, " said Danielle Quist,
vice president of regulatory affairs and counsel, International
Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), during the " Decarbonize
Dairy " panel at IDFA's Dairy Forum on January 25. " As dairy
is doing more, processors and producers have been united
in committing to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and at the
same time, dairy companies are setting their own rigorous
sustainability targets and working to report those metrics to
consumers and to the public. "
Recently, US dairy producers and processors united
in their commitment to reduce emissions as part of the
44 JAN-FEB 2022 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Innovation Center for US Dairy's goal for the US dairy
industry to become carbon neutral or better by 2050.
Meanwhile, food companies are setting their own rigorous
sustainability metrics for suppliers while the proliferation of
private carbon markets gives farmers real income potential
from carbon reduction strategies.
" In 2007, the Innovation Center for US dairy was
established and it represents processors and dairy farmers,
all the way to retail, " said Mike McCloskey, co-founder and
chief executive officer of Select Milk Producers, during the
panel discussion. " There's over 65% of the milk produced in
the nation sitting at that table, constantly making decisions on
how we're going to continue to approach this (Net Zero). "
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
For many businesses, supply chains have come into focus
because they use resources and money and can be a source
of unnecessary waste. Companies have started to measure
the environmental and societal impact of their suppliers and
services, from the beginning to the end of their life cycles.
Sustainable supply chain management involves integrating
environmentally and financially viable practices into the
complete supply chain lifecycle, from product development,
to production, packaging, transportation, warehousing,
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Dairy Processing - January/February 2022

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