2011 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report - Innovation Center for US Dairy

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Sustainability Measurement and Reporting Framework for U.S. Dairy “Measurement is imperative for both the credibility and substance of our sustainability initiatives. Proper measurement is a prerequisite for proper reporting, for which there will be more demand over time.” Jed Davis Director of Sustainability Cabot Creamery Cooperative In 2011, the Innovation Center launched the development of the Sustainability Measurement and Reporting Framework for U.S. Dairy to establish a consistent and credible baseline for measuring and reporting environmental, economic and social performance. The goal of the project is to identify relevant topics and performance indicators for the dairy industry by collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, analyzing scientific results on impacts, and learning from and building on existing measurements and reporting initiatives. The project leverages the Innovation Center’s industrywide expertise, broad participant base and collaborative, openforum approach to sustainability. To date, this is the only sustainability measurement and reporting framework for the U.S. dairy industry that is based on both technical information and practical input from stakeholders throughout the dairy value chain and from government agencies, researchers and NGOs, such as WWF. Based on a triple-bottom-line approach, the Framework under development includes guiding principles and environmental, economic and social topics that address a sustainable dairy food system, along with specific metrics and calculation methods for each topic where possible. Selection and prioritization of material topics have been based on research related to dairy’s impacts, stakeholder feedback, availability of industry-level data and other assessment criteria. A public comment period on the draft environmental indicators and metrics is planned for summer 2012. The Framework Task Force has identified eight topics for the initial phase of the project and proposed additional topics — such as food safety, nutrition, waste and biodiversity — to be considered for development after the completion of the first phase in 2012 (See table on next page). Work is under way on the identification and definition of indicators within the initial topics for milk production and processing. The Environmental, Social and Economic sections that follow provide more discussion on these topics. Learn more about the industry’s approach in the Measurement Matters white paper at USDairy.com/Sustainability/MeasurementMatters. 16
Yogurt WELCOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL ECONOMIC ABOUT STRUCTURE FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING FRAMEWORK GUIDING PRINCIPLES ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL Considers the direct and indirect economic contributions that the dairy industry provides across the supply chain • Local economic impacts • Product differentiation Focuses on the environmental impacts and performance of the dairy industry INITIAL TOPICS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN 2012 • Energy • GHG emissions • Water Addresses the dairy industry’s impacts on stakeholder groups and communities, in addition to animal care • Working conditions • Animal care • Community contributions PROPOSED TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION AFTER 2012 • Value across the supply chain • Financials • Others TBD • Waste • Biodiversity/land use • Crop production • Others TBD • Food safety • Health and nutrition • Others TBD SPOTLIGHT ON REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE EFFORTS UNDER WAY 2011 Organizations across the dairy value chain recognize the importance of communicating their sustainability efforts and performance to consumers, investors, NGOs and other stakeholders. To date, 14 organizations have published sustainability reports: 12 are Sustainability Council members and eight have followed the Global Reporting Initiative’s Reporting Framework — the world’s most widely used standard for best practices in sustainability reporting. In addition, dairy producers and processors are participating in voluntary disclosure initiatives such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, an independent not-for-profit organization holding the largest database of primary corporate GHG emissions information in the world. Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., began participating in 2010. Dean Foods and Kraft Foods Inc. were featured in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s 2011 S&P 500 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, with 2011 marking Dean Foods’ third consecutive year on the index. The annual index highlights companies within the S&P 500 with the most comprehensive climate-related disclosure practices. Sustainability Reporting Ben & Jerry’s n • Danone (The Dannon Company in U.S.) n Darigold, Inc. n Dean Foods • General Mills Hilmar Cheese Company Kraft Foods Inc. n The Kroger Co. Land O’Lakes, Inc. n McDonald’s n Nestlé n PepsiCo Inc. n Syngenta • Walmart • Sustainability Council member n GRI-based report 17
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