Processor Handbook - Innovation Center for US Dairy

kg CO 2
e per kilogram (kg) milk consumed). 7 In 2007, the
cumulative total emissions of GHG emissions associated
with the consumption of fluid milk in the U.S. were 35
teragrams (Tg) CO 2
e. This represents approximately two
percent of the total U.S. GHG emissions. 8
To meet the needs of the marketplace, the U.S. dairy
industry, under the leadership of the Innovation Center,
endorsed a voluntary goal to reduce GHG emissions for fluid
milk by 25 percent by 2020. 9
The indicators in the Guide focus on the emissions released
at various stages of the dairy value chain. For each indicator,
the boundary and scope of the emissions is indicated.
3. Water
Globally, approximately 70 percent of the world’s
freshwater withdrawals are for agricultural use (crop
irrigation, livestock, etc.). 10 Furthermore, total water use
for agriculture is expected to increase 13 percent by 2050. 11
As a result, water management has become a key issue for
food companies. 12
Water impacts along the dairy value chain are twofold: 1)
water supply and 2) water quality.
Water supply
Water is an important resource used throughout the dairy
supply chain. Across the dairy value chain, up to 90 percent
of the water consumed is a result of crop irrigation. The
remaining 10 percent is used during other stages of the
dairy supply chain including milk production (cleaning
of milking parlor, cooling of milk and providing drinking
water for cows), fluid milk processing and dairy product
manufacturing (cleaning of the processing pipes, equipment
and trucks).
The availability of water differs throughout the United
States. Challenges related to availability of water are a
regional issue because water users are confined to local
watersheds. In areas where water becomes scarcer, good
water management becomes increasingly important for the
dairy industry and other users of water in those areas.
Phase 1 PM Indicators include water use and efficiency.
In addition to the effect on water sources, dairy companies
could identify the impact of the products they purchase on
water sources in other regions of the country.
Water recycling is one of several strategies that can be
used by processors to reduce their impact on stressed
water bodies.
Water quality
Through their various activities, dairy processing and
manufacturing facilities have an impact on the quality of
water sources, which could be immediate in their local area
as well as farther away.
Dairy processing facilities and manufacturing plants
discharge wastewater that has been treated, which could
be applied in the form of sludge on the land as fertilizer,
discharged into local water bodies or sent to local
wastewater treatment plants.
The Guide includes water quality indicators for processors
and manufacturers.
2
Primary Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Fluid Milk in the U.S.
Carbon footprint = 17.6 lbs. CO 2
e per gallon of fluid milk
lbs. CO 2
e / gallon
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
4.42
4.02
3.33
3.15
1.38
Supply Chain Contribution
Feed Production
Milk Production
Processing
Packaging
Transportation/Distribution
Retail
Consumer
1.0
0.5
0.67
0.41
0.0
Enteric
Manure
Management
Fuel
Electricity
Feed
Production
Refrigerant Packaging
Sources related to waste are not included.
Source: Gregory D. Miller and Ying Wang (Eds.), Carbon and Water Footprint of U.S. Milk, From Farm to Table,
Special Issue. Int Dairy J. April 2013; 31(Supplement 1), S1-S100
Available at USDairy.com/Sustainability
Figure 1. Primary Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions for U.S. Fluid Milk
11