The dairy industry has been slashing its greenhouse gas emissions and is using one-tenth less energy than it did nine years ago, according to Dairy Energy Savings (DES).
DES is a subsidiary of Dairy UK, the body representing all parts of the dairy supply chain. It administers the Climate Change Agreement with the dairy sector on behalf of dairy processors. It estimated that dairies and creameries have saved emissions of 40,000t of greenhouse gas emissions in the past 10 years.
“Dairy companies are also slashing the waste they send to landfill, reducing the water needed to produce each pint of milk and using more recycled plastic in milk bottles,” said DES chairman Gerry Sweeney.
Processing company Dairy Crest said that it had developed new packaging, which gives consumers the choice to buy their milk in bags rather than plastic bottles. This had cut material usage and made recycling easier, said the company.
Robert Wiseman Dairies also said it had been testing a number of initiatives to help further improve efficiencies in distribution. It has been using Isotrak software, which assists in enhancing fuel efficiency and maximising vehicle utilisation. It is now extending the use of the software to all of its sites this year.
Wiseman has also incorporated 20 liquefied natural gas vehicles into its fleet. “Our trials with bio-diesel were less successful and we have shelved using this fuel at present,” it added. It estimated that savings at its depots would be around £1.1M this financial year.