Step change for sustainable dairy? Danone pledges to cut methane emissions by 30%

17 Jan 2023 --- French dairy giant Danone is pledging to reduce its absolute methane emissions from its fresh milk supply chain by 30% by 2030. As part of its regenerative dairy strategy, the company has already cut gas emissions by 14% between 2018 and 2020 and expects to cut another 30% on top of that in the next seven years.

This means having to remove 1.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by the decade’s end. Danone’s targets a 30% absolute reduction in methane emissions from fresh milk used in its dairy products makes it the first food company to align targets with the Global Methane Pledge.

Dairy and meat behemoths are faced with the dual challenge of nutritionally feeding the world’s rapidly growing population while tackling climate change and producing sustainable and environmentally conscious solutions. Otherwise, face consumer backlash.

Danone plans to report on its methane emissions, as part of its extra financial disclosure.

According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNCE), the methane global warming potential is 28 to 34 times the one of CO2 in the first 100 years. 

In the first 20 years in the atmosphere, methane emissions are even more pronounced as they cause 84 to 86 times more warming than CO2. Therefore, methane emission cutting has a faster incidence in combating global warming than targeting other emissions.

“Cutting methane emissions is one of the fastest and most effective ways to slow climate change. The dairy sector can play an important role in driving these reductions while boosting farmer livelihoods and increasing food security and nutrition,” explains Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

“Danone is the first food company raising this type of ambition, but it can’t be the last. This is the decisive decade for climate action. We invite other food companies, farmers and policymakers to join us on a path toward 2030 climate results,” he stresses.

Methane global warming potential is 28 to 34 times the one of CO2 in the first 100 years. (Credits: Danone).Methane-heavy sector
Dairy production from cattle makes up 8% of total human-caused methane emissions, with livestock activities representing 40% of global emissions, admits Danone, citing The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change data.

“Dairy products are an affordable source of nutrition for many people, at the core of our mission to bring health through food. As one of the largest dairy companies, we take the challenge of both producing more [to feed a growing population] and greatly reducing emissions and impact on climate.”

“Our plan to reduce methane emissions – in line with Global Methane Pledges from 150 countries – is a commitment to build regenerative dairy.”

The Global Methane Pledge, launched at the Glasgow Climate Summit last year, commits 130 countries to a 30% cut in global methane emissions by 2030.

Partnering for success
Danone is working directly with 58,000 dairy farmers from 20 countries, collaborating with public entities like the EC Climate Neutral Farms Project and the US Department of Agriculture.

“This step change requires a collective effort. Working with farmers, partners and governments, we have the power and duty to build farming models that benefit the climate and society, taking a step forward to tackling global warming together.”

The business is also partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund to improve its data reporting on emissions, working in innovative financing models to deploy solutions for farmers faster and by advocating for governments to prioritize agricultural methane solutions.

Danone North America is working closely with the US Department of Agriculture to help farmers in reduce methane emissions though a comprehensive regenerative strategy where improved manure management strategies create methane reductions and improve fertilizer use on cropland. Danone has already cut gas emissions by 14% between 2018 and 2020. (Credits: Danone).

In Europe, Danone is supporting the European Commission’s Climate Neutral Farms (ClieNFarm) project to co-develop and upscale systemic locally relevant solutions to reach climate neutral,  resilient and sustainable farms across Europe. 

Danone has also worked with the Algerian government to support smallholder farmers to improve farming practices, working with 1,500 farmers since 2015.

Moreover, Danone plans to launch four new initiatives for methane reduction in Africa, Europe and the US this year.

Dairy sector tackles methane
After an incendiary report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy suggested that 15 companies were responsible for 3.4% of global methane emissions, industry pushed back detailing their climate commitments. 

Dairy cooperative Arla Foods will motivate farmers to hit their 2030 sustainability goals through a €500 million (US$490 million) annual incentive program announced in October that rewards green practices. 

Furthermore, Saputo previously explained to FoodIngredientsFirst how it launched 2025 Supply Chain Pledges, which include an expectation from our milk suppliers to implement relevant sustainability standards.

The company’s policy recognizes that the primary greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farming are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and that milk suppliers should identify sources of emissions in their operation and implement practices or technologies to reduce them.

By Marc Cervera