Processor Handbook - Innovation Center for US Dairy

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The development work of the Guide is overseen by the
Sustainability Task Force, which seeks to ensure that the
indicators and metrics are dairy-appropriate, technically
sound and feasible for the industry. The Task Force will also
update the indicators in the Guide as needed and make
recommendations to the Council. Once the Guide is finalized
a report from the Council will go to the Innovation Center’s
Board of Directors for endorsement.
Aligned with tools to improve profitability and
environmental impact
The Innovation Center is also using the LCA studies to
develop robust, web-based tools — Dairy Plant Smart TM and
Dairy Fleet Smart TM — that are available for processors and
manufacturers to measure performance and, ultimately,
improve decision making and identify efficiencies.
Linkage with GRI
The draft metrics are based
on several of the performance
indicators from the Global
Reporting Initiative’s
Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Version 3.1 (G3.1). 1 The
GRI Guidelines are part of GRI’s Reporting Framework,
the most widely used framework for sustainability
reporting worldwide.
The GRI Guidelines have been developed through
consultation with diverse international stakeholders,
including representatives from businesses, civil society,
labor, investors and professional institutions. Sustainability
reports based on the GRI Reporting Framework can be
benchmarked and compared over time.
The GRI performance indicators are applicable to dairy
processing and manufacturing operations; however, the
metrics in this handbook and the Guide have been tailored
to improve the relevancy for dairy businesses. Some Guide
indicators can be
used instead of the
cross-referenced GRI
indicators. Processors
are encouraged to use
the GRI Guidelines
for support and
guidance for reporting
of sustainability
information, including
these Guide indicators.
GRI has reviewed
the environmental
indicators and
approved the
references in
the Guide to GRI
indicators.
In addition to the GRI
Guidelines, indicators
and metrics from
other measurement
systems have been
consulted and were
considered for alignment where relevant and applicable.
An overview of the frameworks that have been researched
by the Innovation Center and how they relate to the
Guide is presented in the Research Compendium (to be
released in later this year). The Innovation Center has
chosen to make a linkage to the GRI framework and other
relevant reporting tools in order to ensure harmonization
and prevent duplication of efforts. To demonstrate this
approach, the Innovation Center became part of GRI’s
Organizational Stakeholder Program in April 2012.
For guidance regarding the preparation of a sustainability
report, dairy processors and manufacturers can refer to
the “Value” section in this handbook (pages 42 to 43).
Companies can also refer to GRI G3.1 in the Sustainability
Reporting Guidelines and Food Processing Sector
Supplement to learn more about selecting key topics to
report, defining content and ensuring the quality of the
information shared.
DRAFT Processor Handbook to the Guide, April 2013