In 2023, Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ) launched the Dairy Processing Task Force and has brought together organizations that are discussing ways to streamline the dairy production process to cut emissions and improve other sustainability outcomes.

The task force, sponsored by Tetra Pak, is open to all dairy companies and equipment suppliers and is focused on developing realistic, achievable solutions in the short term while keeping a pulse on potential future developments on and over the horizon.

WHY IS THIS TASK FORCE NEEDED?

While farmers are often in the spotlight for how they are addressing on-farm emissions, dairy processors can also drive progress toward environmental impact goals by improving production efficiencies.

Production-related emissions, which fall in the Scope 1 category, have less of a total impact than the on-farm Scope 3 emissions, but can still play a key role in reducing the environmental impact of the dairy value chain.

WHAT IS THE TASK FORCE DOING?

The scope of the Dairy Processing Task Force is to look at the entire dairy processing plant, through all the different processes, to identify existing solutions that can be implemented to reduce emissions as well as innovations that can help companies reach the final target of zero emissions from plants.

WHAT ARE THE TASK FORCE’S NEXT STEPS?

The task force will work methodically through all areas of the dairy processing facility. The scope of each of the areas will include the following:

1. Evaluate each step to see if it can be avoided, finding alternatives where possible.
2. Optimize processes to reduce emissions where avoidance is not feasible.
3. Identify opportunities to recover and exchange energy with other processes.
4. List legislative restrictions on Best Solutions, highlighting where external action is needed.
5. Establish an energy consumption baseline for future impact measurement.

If you’d like to join the task force, please fill out this form.