Dairy Processing - September/October 2024 - 23

Small- and mid-size
processing professionals are
significantly less likely to report
that their companies have
dedicated senior personnel
whose primary function
is overseeing company
environmental sustainability
initiatives. "
Marjorie Hellmer, Cypress Research
were asked if their companies engage in
12 different sustainability initiatives. The
top initiatives with programs in place or
currently under development according to all
respondents include:
* Waste reduction (83%)
*
*
Material recycling program (79%)
Energy reduction (75%)
* Water reduction (75%)
Regarding formal, measurable reduction or
increase targets for such initiatives, only 60% of
respondents reported having targets for overall
waste reduction, and 51% and 50% had targets
for energy reduction and water reduction
initiatives, respectively.
" According to professionals with larger dairy
processors, these companies begin to pull far
ahead of their small- and mid-size company
counterparts, with significantly greater shares
reporting additional commitments in renewable
energy use, use of technology/data/AI, heat
recovery systems, upcycle ingredients use, and
a commitment to a net-zero transition plan, "
Hellmer said.
SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERS
A company's sustainability journey is not
isolated; it relies on partnerships throughout
the supply chain, particularly with equipment
and ingredient suppliers. When asked how
important it is for these suppliers to provide
leadership, education and resources related
to environmental sustainability program
development and design, 61% of total
respondents said it was important or very
important.
When asked to rate the importance
DAIRYPROCESSING.COM | SEP-OCT 2024 23
SUSTAINABILITY
STUDY WEBINAR
For more about the Environmental Sustainability Commitment
in the US Dairy Processing Industry study, join Dairy
Processing's free webinar on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 2 pm EST.
Moderated by Dairy Processing
managing editor Kristen Putch, the
discussion will feature Cypress Research
president Marjorie Hellmer and Dairy
Management, Inc. vice president of
sustainability standards, measurement
and reporting Eric Hassel. They will
explore the study results and the
state of sustainability commitments
within the dairy supply chain.
of ingredient suppliers having their own
environmentally sustainable practices, the top
areas include:
*
Humane farming (70%)
* Waste reduction (63%)
*
*
Sustainable packaging (62%)
Supply chain transparency (60%)
For equipment suppliers, top areas include:
*
*
*
Sustainable packaging (67%)
Material recycling program (66%)
Supply chain transparency (63%)
* Waste reduction (63%)
When asked about barriers to implementing
environmental sustainability initiatives,
overwhelmingly 71% of respondents said
that balancing the short-term mission of
sustainability with long-term company vision is
the biggest obstacle.
Register for free!
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Dairy Processing - September/October 2024

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