FrieslandCampina on Track with Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Targets
28 May 2014 --- Dutch dairy company FrieslandCampina has released its 2013 CRS Report, which confirms that the business has already taken “important steps” towards a more sustainable dairy production chain, as outlined in its route2020 corporate strategy.
As part of its 2020 strategy, the company set a series of goals in four priority areas: health & nutrition, efficient and sustainable production chains, dairy development in Africa and Asia, and sustainable dairy farming. These goals were used to create action plans for the coming years.
“Milk is rich in nutrients and provides high-quality protein, essential vitamins and minerals,” explained ceo Cees ‘t Hart. “In light of its nutritional value, affordability and relatively low climate impact, milk fits perfectly into the concept of ‘sustainable diets’ supported and promoted by the UN Food & Agricultural Organisation. FrieslandCampina aims to contribute to nourishing a growing world population through safe and healthy diets with a low environmental impact by reducing its environmental footprint and by research, innovation and investing in sustainable solutions.”
The dairy company has also set some longer-term goals, which involved contributing towards solving three global challenges: the growing world population, aging farmers and the scarcity of natural raw materials.
In order to deal with the first global challenge the company is focusing on how it can help feed the growing world population, as well as looking at areas such as ensuring global security, nutrition security and affordable nutrition. It is also investigating the best way to maintain food safety and consumer trust.
FrieslandCampina is also working to develop more interest for young people in farming as a profession by offering good prospects for the future and by so doing it says it is “responding to the worldwide fast-rising average age of farmers”.
The key CSR developments it has outlined from its 2013 report include a number of developments in nutrition and health, including reducing the salt and fat in cheese and introducing Optimel Puur, the first yogurt drink without added sugar or sweetener.
In terms of dairy developments in Asia and Africa, it has increased local fresh milk production in Indonesia, set up a research centre in China and exchanged knowledge and experience between member dairy farmers and dairy farmers in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The company has made efforts to build efficient and sustainable production chains, and it notes that 63% of the electricity it uses at 35 production facilities in the Netherlands is green electricity generated mainly by member dairy farms.
And it has also made steps to improve sustainable dairy farming by supporting the Vision of the Future of Dutch Dairy Farming of the LTO and NZO after the ending of the milk quote in 2015. It was also involved in the introduction of the ‘Koe-Kompas’ (Cow Compass), a management tool added to the quality and sustainability programme Foqus planet to improve the health of dairy cattle.
