A healthy planet is just as important to today’s consumers as a healthy body and mind. Growing demand for sustainable dairy ingredients, together with the rising challenge of food security, means taking care of the environment remains one of our top priorities. To achieve this, transparency is vital. As part of a cooperative of dairy farmers, we’re proud to know exactly where our ingredients come from. We own the entire dairy supply chain – from grass to glass – ensuring consistent quality and ethical standards every step of the way.
We take a long-term approach to sustainability with the ambition to provide climate-neutral dairy by 2050 as part of our wider goal to nourish a better planet . Explore below how we’re collaborating with customers, partners and member farmers to lead in sustainable dairy ingredients.
As one of the world’s leading sustainable dairy ingredient suppliers, we’re always exploring new ways to make our ingredients better for people and planet. We do this by focusing efforts across our supply chain, from the farm to the factory – and beyond.
Most greenhouse gas emissions in dairy come from farms—so that’s a big part of where we focus our efforts. As a cooperative of dairy farmers, we’re driving change through sustainable practices like adopting methane-reducing feed additives for cattle, sourcing soy for feed from deforestation-free areas and implementing responsible agricultural techniques such as regenerative agriculture. Plus, a growing number of our member farmers generate their own energy using solar, wind and manure to help make our dairy ingredients more sustainable.
To reduce our ingredients’ footprints, we’re cutting greenhouse gas emissions at our production sites by investing in green energy, reducing waste and using smart energy management. By closely tracking our equipment’s performance and energy consumption, we’re identifying opportunities to boost efficiency and lower our environmental impact. Discover how effective energy management is helping us create sustainable dairy ingredients.
Consumers are growing more health conscious, as well as more planet conscious. So, demand for sustainable protein is on the rise. As one of the world’s leading dairy ingredients suppliers, we’re prioritising sustainable protein production by reducing our carbon footprint at both farm and production level, improving animal welfare, and investing in renewable energy and regenerative agriculture – helping you meet consumer expectations without compromising on quality.
We’re working together with companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the dairy value chain. Our GHG Reduction Partnership enables dairy-based scope 3 emissions to be reduced by 16% between 2019 and 2025 without needing to commit to a more resource-intensive programme. We have already partnered with Mondelēz and McDonald’s to enable them to make sustainability progress at scale, while companies like Danone, Nestlé and Mars have also leveraged our data-driven approach to reduce their scope 3 emissions. Together, we can make sustainable nutrition a reality.
There’s a huge opportunity to appeal to the growing number of eco-conscious consumers looking for sustainability claims backed up by proof – in early life, adult and medical nutrition. We use a data-backed, science-based approach to enhance manufacturers’ environmental credentials and cement their reputation as a leader in sustainable dairy.
Our carbon footprint reduction is calculated in accordance with commonly-used standards, including (but not limited to):
To meet our own carbon footprint reduction commitments, FrieslandCampina works closely with its member farmers to implement various emission reduction initiatives at farm level. This includes initiatives like smart breeding and feed additives, using deforestation-free and locally produced feed, and investments in manure digestors and renewable energy generation. We report on these reductions annually, and you can find more detail of our initiatives here.
Our parent company, FrieslandCampina, publishes half-year and annual reports, providing an in-depth view of our sustainability results. In the reports, you will find information on our greenhouse gas emissions and how we are progressing against our targets. Download the latest reports here.
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of sustainability, which is having a knock-on effect on their food choices. Shoppers are increasingly scrutinising labels for products that prioritise the health of the planet and are seeking nutrition brands that they trust, and which can help empower them to make ethical and sustainable choices more easily.
This is especially true in the early life nutrition market; research from FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Qualtrix found that 81% of parents mention that environmental impact plays a role in their choice of infant milk formula. What’s more, 79% of parents would consider switching to another infant milk formula if the brand provided an environmental claim.
FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Qualtrix, date TBC.
In 2024, our scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for member milk decreased by 9.8% from 2023, meaning we have already met our 2030 target. This places us in a good position to meet our 2050 goal. Meanwhile, our scope 1 and 2 emissions for production and transport decreased by 1.4% – setting us on track for our 2030 target. Download the latest reports here.
We align with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which recommends that cutting all possible emissions before 2050 is the most effective and scientific way of limiting a global temperature rise above 1.5°C. That’s why we prioritise reducing our emissions as much as possible, rather than relying on offsetting. To hold ourselves accountable, we also have ambitious targets across our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions for 2030, which the SBTi has validated are in line with the maximum 1.5°C global warming agreed in the Paris Climate Agreement. These targets include a 63% reduction of GHG emissions in our global production chain and our milk transport chain in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, as well as a 33% reduction of GHG emissions from milk production on member dairy farms.
Download our climate plan, ‘On the way to climate-neutral dairy’ for more information on our sustainable dairy initiatives.
Get in touch with our team to find out how we can help you achieve your sustainability ambitions. Whether you want to partner on a bespoke solution or benefit from our leading at-farm initiatives, together we can bring sustainable nutrition to life.
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