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

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DAIRY VALUE CHAIN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FEED PRODUCTION MILK PRODUCTION PROCESSING PACKAGING TRANSPORTATION/ DISTRIBUTION RETAIL CONSUMER KEY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS based on completed and ongoing LCA research GHG EMISSIONS key sources WATER QUANTITY & QUALITY fertilizer production, energy use cows (enteric), manure, energy use energy use energy use, materials fuel use, refrigerants energy use, refrigerants unused/ expired products ADDITIONAL ASPECTS key topics biodiversity, land use biodiversity, land use, air quality packaging materials waste to landfill waste to landfill IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES GHG REDUCTIONS WATER MANAGEMENT key approaches energy efficiency, agricultural systems improvements feed efficiency, manure management, energy efficiency energy efficiency, new technology energy efficiency, sustainable materials fuel efficiency, fuel type, driver habits energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling waste reduction, recycling 20
WELCOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL ECONOMIC ABOUT Beginning with Science Science guides our work; it provides a research-based understanding of the impacts of the dairy industry and directs us to key risks and opportunities. Our approach encompasses LCA research, process-based modeling and applied science. In particular, several research projects using an LCA approach have been fundamental to the industry’s sustainability commitment. LCA Research An LCA examines environmental impacts of a product through its entire life cycle, from cradle to grave (product creation through disposal). This comprehensive approach enables us to determine impacts across our value chain, beginning with feed production for dairy cows; continuing with milk production, transport, processing, packaging and distribution to retailers; and ending with consumers who purchase and use dairy products (as illustrated on page 20). As such, LCAs serve as the foundation of our work by providing an accurate snapshot of impacts such as GHG emissions and water use, establishing benchmarks to measure improvement, and helping to identify and prioritize mitigation opportunities. Our LCA studies follow the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for life cycle assessments, the world’s most recognized and widely used methodology for analyzing a product’s life cycle. 34 Each study undergoes peer review by a group of experts from scientific academia as well as industry, environmental NGOs and governmental organizations. While initial research focused on GHG emissions and fluid milk, the scope of subsequent and ongoing LCAs has broadened to evaluate other environmental issues such as water, land use and packaging, and to assess cheese. Scan-level GHG LCA for Fluid Milk This initial study used secondary data sources to estimate GHG emissions across the value chain. The results informed the development of the GHG emissions reduction projects and goals described on page 25. GHG LCA for Fluid Milk Completed in 2010, this LCA is the first national carbon footprint study of its kind and the largest scale effort in the world at the time. Primary data was collected from 536 farms, 50 processing plants and 210,000 round trips transporting milk from farm to processor. In conjunction with other sources, the peer-reviewed study established that the U.S. dairy industry accounts for approximately 2 percent of our country’s GHG emissions. 35 Key findings > LCA results provide guidance on where to focus measurement and innovation efforts. Study analysis revealed that 90 percent of the GHG footprint can be explained by approximately 20 variables readily available from individuals in the supply chain. Managing these 20 variables through targeted programs can address the factors known to contribute most to the industry’s impact. > On the farm, management practices matter most, more than factors such as farm size, region or type of business. > Energy management practices are important across the supply chain. The impacts from fuel and electricity span all stages of the supply chain; therefore, opportunities for improvement exist in all stages. For more information, go to USDairy.com/Sustainability/Science. U.S. GHG Emissions = 7,168 Tg CO 2 e U.S. Dairy Industry: ~2% The U.S. dairy industry accounts for approximately 2% of total U.S. GHG emissions. 36 21
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2011 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report - Innovation Center for US Dairy

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