Environmental Sustainability

For Australian Dairy Processors sustainability is more than a requirement, it’s a commitment to ensuring the Australian dairy industry continues to be one of the best in the world.

Dairy processors are tracking, measuring, and reporting on emissions reductions, sustainable packaging, human rights and much more.

Efficiency and sustainability are key topics on every processor’s agenda and as an industry we have made significant and impressive headway.

In 2022/23, dairy processors generated on average 125.5t CO₂e of greenhouse gas per ML of raw milk processed – another year-on-year cut in emission intensity.

This reduction equates to a 10.4 per cent drop in emissions intensity versus the 2015/16 baseline year.

Compared to the original baseline of 2010/11, this represents a significant 29.8 per cent reduction in emission intensity, equating to an overall reduction in absolute emissions of 37.8 per cent.

We are diverting 85 per cent of waste from landfill, towards a target of 100 per cent by 2030 and have made significant progress towards a target of 100 per cent reusable, recyclable or compostable sustainability packaging by 2025.

The Australian dairy industry is vital to our nation’s economy, food security, and regional development.

We know sustainability is key to achieving our goal of a strong, vibrant Australian dairy industry and to keep dairy manufacturing local.

Collaboration with the Australian dairy industry to deliver the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework and meet government and industry targets. This includes:

• Investing in Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator education tools and resources that includes:
  • methods to reduce carbon footprint.
  • data analysis and reporting
  • on-farm extension with farmers.
• Investing in scope three emissions to create standardised methodology and reporting, and to build capability.
• Funding the development and implementation of a whole of industry Emissions Reduction Roadmap to support delivery of the Australian Dairy Sustainability Framework target to reduce GHG emission by 30 per cent by 2030 (vs 2015 baseline) – and net zero by 2050.
• Government investment and resources to accelerate commercialisation and adoption of emission reduction technologies for the dairy industry.
• Support to deliver the Dairy Packaging Roadmap, and the three prioritised areas.
• Support to deliver the Dairy Sector Food Waste Action Plan.

Processors are dedicated to meeting their packaging targets. They’re reducing single use plastic, designing
for end-of-life recycling, and integrating recycled content into packaging. Our packaging roadmap contributes to ‘the vision’ for Australia’s packaging future, a future that recognises our planet has finite resources to meet our increasing consumption.

The release of the Australian Dairy Packaging Roadmap was a world first plan to deliver a sustainable approach to packaging. Its current focus is on soft plastics, increased recycled content and reducing the pigment in milk bottle caps.

Dairy farmers are passionate about what they do, and they care about their animals.

However, it’s not just the responsibility of farmers, but rather the whole dairy supply chain, to ensure only the highest standards of animal welfare are accepted.

Through the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework the 2030 goal set around animal welfare is to: Provide best care for all animals for whole of life.