Climate change is one of the greatest challenges the world is facing today. In order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, significant action is necessary.

As one of the world’s largest dairy producers, we have a responsibility to do our part in reducing our negative impact on the climate. With our size comes strength and influence. Even by making small changes we have the power to make a significant global impact.

By building on our cooperative roots, we unite our resources and use them as a force to drive down emissions while producing nutrient dense products for the growing population.

Working together towards Carbon Net Zero dairy in 2050

Together with our farmer owners across seven European countries we launched our ambitious climate target in March 2019. Our ambition is to become carbon net zero by 2050.

On the way to net zero emissions, we have committed to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 63 per cent by 2030 from a 2015 base year.* We also commit to reduce scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent per tonne of standardised raw milk and whey intake by 2030 from a 2015 base year.

*The target boundary includes biogenic emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.

Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees

In December 2021, we doubled our climate target for operations including owned logistics from 30 to 63 per cent. This target has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as consistent with reductions required in scopes 1 and 2 to keep global warming to 1.5°C. The most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement.

Also read: Arla doubles CO2e target for operations to meet 1.5°C

Arla’s climate targets from a 2015 base year:

• 63 per cent absolute CO₂e reduction in scope 1 and 2 by 2030
• 30 per cent per tonne of standardised raw milk and whey intake by 2030
• 100 per cent recyclable packaging on Arla’s own brands by 2025
• 0 per cent virgin fossil-based plastic on Arla’s own brands by 2030
• 50 per cent reduction of food waste by 2030
• Carbon Net Zero across all scopes by 2050

See overview of Arla’s targets and actions to reduce climate impact towards 2050:

(Click the image to enlarge)

In addition to our climate targets, we're going shoulder to shoulder with some of the world’s biggest companies, including IKEA, L’Oréal, Unilever and Mastercard, by signing up to the World Federation of Advertisers’ Planet Pledge. It is a CMO-led framework designed to galvanise action from marketers to promote and reinforce attitudes and behaviours which will help the world meet the challenges laid out in the UN SDGs. Via WFA we have committed to championing the work of Race to Zero. We are encouraging our marketing partners to do the same and also asking them to consider highlighting the work of Race to Zero to their existing partners to drive awareness  of the campaign and hopefully increase the number of companies signing up to support it.