NETHERLANDS – Dutch multinational dairy cooperative FrieslandCampina has announced that it will invest €1.5 billion (US$1.63 billion) until 2030 in climate-neutral initiatives in a renewed push towards achieving net-zero dairy by 2050.
The Amersfoort, Netherlands headquartered dairy giant revealed its new investment in its recently released climate plan ‘On the way to climate-neutral dairy’.
The plan contains clear targets and concrete actions towards achieving significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, putting the dairy on course to achieve net climate-neutral dairy by 2050.
In its climate plan, FrieslandCampina targets to achieve 63 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within its own operations (‘scopes 1 and 2’) by 2030 compared to 2015.
It plans to achieve this through measures as the use of non-fossil (green) energy in production and transport, and optimisation of the production footprint.
For the production of milk at the member dairy farms (‘scope 3’), the target is a 33 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2015.
“The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on the farm will be achieved by means of a package of options that match with the diversity within the cooperative and the professionalism and entrepreneurship of the member dairy farmers,” FrieslandCampina explained.
The company further revealed that it is working with its suppliers to achieve a 43 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the raw materials supply chain and in the supply of products (‘scope 3, other’) such as packaging, procurement of basic dairy and sugar.
Hein Schumacher, CEO Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.: “FrieslandCampina is keen to give people throughout the world daily access to good and affordable food, produced in balance with the planet.
Our detailed climate plan demonstrates that we are keen to do our bit. Our targets and concrete actions provide a clear road map towards a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, putting us on course to achieve net climate-neutral dairy by 2050.”
Shumacher further revealed that FrieslandCampina will be working closely together with member dairy farmers, customers, suppliers, scientists, NGOs and government on meeting the climate targets.
In the climate plan the dairy highlighted some of its achievement which include a 28% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within the business in the period between between 2015 and 2021.
The greenhouse gas emissions were achieved through energy saving measures and the use of green energy, the Dutch dairy cooperative said.
The company further revealed that greenhouse gas emissions from the more than 10,000 farms affiliated with the cooperative fell by 12.5 percent over the 2015-2021 period.
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