Danone has announced a global action plan to reduce absolute methane emissions from its fresh milk supply chain by 30% by 2030, removing 1.2 million tons carbon dioxide equivalent of methane emissions. The reduction will have immediate benefits for the climate, since dairy production from cattle makes up an estimated 8% of total human-caused methane emissions.
To achieve its goal, Danone will focus on:
- Working with farmers to implement regenerative dairy practices and develop innovative solutions
- Collaborating and partnering with peers, governments, and Environmental Defense Fund to scale innovation, reporting, and advance financing models
- Advocating and engaging with governments to improve methane policies, data, and reporting, as well as funding for research and to support farmers transitioning to regenerative dairy practices
Danone North America Cuts 51,200 Tons of CO2e |
In pursuit of achieving its goal faster and more effectively, Danone has launched a partnership with Environmental Defense Fund, a global non-profit environmental organization working in nearly 30 countries. Environmental Defense Fund will work with Danone on improving science, data, and reporting for agricultural methane emissions to ensure climate benefits are real and durable; advocating for action from the dairy industry and governments to prioritize agricultural methane solutions; and advancing innovative financing models, such as co-funding models between companies and governments, to deploy farmer-friendly solutions, faster.
Danone currently works directly with 58,000 dairy farmers across 20 countries and has already supported projects for dairy farms in 14 countries, through its regenerative agriculture program, initiatives such as Farming for Generations and with Danone Ecosystem. While these projects are holistic in nature, with benefits on biodiversity, soil quality, and reducing the use of chemicals in farming, reduction of GHG emissions—including methane—has been a priority.