Senior management of Lakeland Dairies, Ireland’s largest cross border dairy co-operative, visited Alan and Geraldine McDonnell’s farm at Grangebellew recently to launch an ambitious new sustainability strategy targeting key programmes and initiatives to 2030.
The strategy, entitled Pathway to a Better Future, is aimed at significantly reducing emissions at farm and factory level while ensuring that Lakeland Dairies continues to be a world-class producer of dairy products which are consumed in over 100 markets worldwide.
The strategy focusses on six Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Pillars – Climate Action, Sustainable Farms, Supply Chains, People and Communities, Sustainable Operations and Responsible Business.
Key targets contained in the strategy include:
- A 30% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030.
- A 30% reduction in carbon footprint of milk production by 2030.
- 100% of plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable and compostable by 2030.
- A 15% reduction in water usage by 2025.
- A clear commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.
- Zero waste to landfill by 2026.
- A Net Zero commitment working with the SBTi (Science Based Targets Initiative).
- Rollout of Farm Sustainability Programme in 2023.
The SBTi targets provide companies with a pathway to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals to get to Net Zero.
Lakeland Dairies, which has 3,200 farm families and annual turnover of over €2bn, processes some 2bn litres of milk on sites in Ireland as well as Northern Ireland.
Central to the strategy is a policy of rewarding farmers for taking positive environmental actions on their farms. Later this year, Lakeland Dairies will announce a Farm Sustainability Programme which will deliver a Farm Sustainability Incentive Payment to support farm families on the collective sustainability journey.
Commenting on the strategy, Chairperson of Lakeland Dairies Niall Matthews said: “Lakeland Dairies’ farm families have already played a huge role in tackling climate change and improving our sustainability credentials. Largescale adoption of low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) technology, efficient management of nutrients, using the latest breeding advancements and leadership in the uptake of clover grasses and multi-species swards (MSS) means that Lakeland Dairies suppliers are well-placed to meet the future with optimism.”
Colin Kelly, Group CEO of Lakeland Dairies: “Through Pathway to a Better Future, we’re shaping a future where sustainability and ESG are not just goals but a way of life. The world and environment in which we are operating has changed considerably in recent times with environmental demands now greater than ever at farm and factory level. This trend will continue, and we are well prepared for the challenges and opportunities that will present themselves in this new chapter of the co-op’s history.”
Lakeland Dairies’ Group Head of Sustainability Rory Farrell added: “Climate action is critically important for us as a business and is also an imperative for our customers and consumers across the world who we serve. Irish dairying is already hugely sustainable, having one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Having a verifiable and credible sustainability strategy is also crucial in maintaining our Social Licence to operate.”
