We begin this week’s whistle-stop news tour with dairy giant Arla, which once again finds its environmental efforts under the microscope. Fresh from batting away criticism of its use of methane-reducing cow feed supplement, Bovear, the dairy cooperative now stands accused of failing to take adequate steps to decarbonise the wider business.
Its accusers, the campaign groups Changing Markets Foundation and Greenpeace Nordic, claim in a new report that Arla’s current policies will not enable the company to reach its target of net-zero by 2050 since many of its reduction strategies rely on research and developments, such as the use of feed additives and biogas production from manure, that are yet to demonstrate their effectiveness and long lasting impacts, and do not tackle the root cause of emissions.
The pair draw particular attention to the fact the dairy giant has no reduction targets for material non-CO2 emissions, including from methane, a potent greenhouse gas and a key source of livestock emissions.
The report compares Arla’s climate plans with UN guidelines for businesses setting net-zero targets and claims that out of nine relevant recommendations Arla has only met one in full (not using carbon credits, albeit the company has formerly used offsets to claim carbon neutrality for some of its products), has partially met five and does not currently meet three.
The campaigners are calling on Arla, which they describe as “the poster child of dairy sustainability”, to set an ambitious methane target – a minimum 30% reduction by 2030 – and shift to ‘less and better’ dairy, as well as more plant-based products. They say that only by implementing these measures will the dairy giant be able to reduce its emissions at the pace and scale that are needed.
The extent to which different meat and dairy production systems can mitigate emissions from livestock has and will continue to be the focus of extensive research (and no little debate). Now, farmers are being urged to join a new trial that aims to make it simpler for them to measure and reduce their carbon footprint. The not-so-snappily titled ‘Land use to net-zero greenhouse gas accounting project’ (LUNZ Footprint for short) is being run by the Cool Farm Alliance (CFA) and the University of Gloucestershire.
Participating farmers will be expected to complete two greenhouse gas footprint measurements over two years with the support of the CFA. In return, they will be paid £200 + VAT per year and be able to benchmark their farm and get insights and guidance on how to make improvements and find efficiencies.
“We already have a number of farmers involved in the project, but we urgently need more,” said Eleanor Durrant from Cool Farm Alliance who is leading the work.
Cash is also on the table for farmers who wish to adopt more sustainable practices – albeit this is the kind that has to be repaid with interest. Oxbury, which describes itself as the UK’s only bank dedicated to agriculture, food, and farming, has launched a new “first of its kind” funding facility for UK farming businesses to support them in increasing their resilience by reducing carbon emissions and improving their soil health and soil organic carbon.
Oxbury said because the product aims to support farmer-led transitions, farmers will be able to use the facility in the way they deem most appropriate by, for example, using it to cover input costs, general working capital, infrastructure or machinery. Loans will be available at interest rates from 1% above the Bank of England base rate for a period of up to 6 years.
Talking of finance, money has been pouring into the development of new types of fibre-based packaging in recent years amid the ongoing war on plastic. Now the sector has formed its own industry body with the aim of influencing the development and implementation of waste and recycling policy in the UK.
The Alliance for Fibre-Based Packaging, whose members include raw material suppliers, convertors, distributors, retailers and other stakeholders, will represent the views of members in the development of pEPR as the UK moves to the producer pays model, “ensuring a level playing field between materials”; as well as “the maximum acceptability of fibre-based packaging within the UK’s fibre collection and recycling system”.
Elsewhere this week, we report on new, in-depth analysis of how the UK public is not resilient to future food shocks; explore research showing how management teams lack ethnic diversity within the hospitality sector; and explain why academics believe VAT reform can boost sustainable eating.
Elsewhere in Footprint news this week…..
- In-depth analysis shows how the UK public is not resilient to future food shocks (click here)
- Research finds management teams lack ethnic diversity within the hospitality sector (click here)
- Academics believe VAT reform can boost sustainable eating (click here)
