Canada’s dairy processors know that Canadians want high-quality products that are not simply good for them, but are sourced and produced in sustainable ways.
Creating a sustainable future is important for dairy processors, too.
Each of us has a role to play in improving the environmental impact of our sector and creating a sustainable future for Canada’s agri-food sector. That’s why Canada’s dairy processors are taking steps to measure and address our industry’s carbon footprint, identify ways to reduce the waste created in our supply chain, and improve both the energy efficiency and water usage of our operations. This commitment also means improving our impact once products leave our plants. Dairy processors are committed to reducing packaging waste by finding solutions to recyclable, reusable packaging materials.
To demonstrate the industry’s commitments, DPAC is proud to be an implementing partner of the Canada Plastics Pact, a signatory to the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam and Pathways to Dairy Net Zero, and an advocate for government investment in the types of clean technologies needed to create a more sustainable future for Canada’s agri-food sector.
Dairy processing is just one part of a product’s journey from farm to table. That is why DPAC is committed to working collaboratively with Canada’s dairy farmers in order to continuously improve our sector’s environmental impact.
Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Canada’s dairy sector has committed to promote sustainability throughout the supply chain through its support for the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam.
This initiative led by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognizes the important role that dairy plays in supporting global nutrition, economic development, and environmental stewardship. Canada’s dairy sector, along with others around the world who have signed the declaration, commit to taking an integrated approach to sustainability guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Dairy processors around the world are taking action toward continuously improving the environmental sustainability of their operations.
To support the efforts of Canada’s dairy processors, DPAC has committed to support and promote the principles of the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero Declaration which aims to reduce the dairy sector’s greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years through:
- Mitigation: Continuing to improve production and process efficiency to further reduce the GHG emissions intensity of milk and dairy products.
- Greenhouse gas removals: Enhancing production practices that protect carbon sinks (soil, forests, grass, peatlands) and complement natural ecosystems.
- Avoidance and adaptation: Improving practices such as feed, manure, fertilizer and energy management.
- Insets and offsets: Identifying and implementing alternative, credible reduction options.
- Measurement and monitoring: Measuring GHG emissions to plan mitigation and monitoring progress.
- Overall support: Promoting the global initiative and emphasizing the dairy sector’s climate ambition.
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero is an important opportunity for the global dairy industry to support these individual efforts and work together to reduce emissions and contribute to improved environmental sustainability. Its supporters include Dairy Farmers of Canada, many DPAC members and more than 100 organizations that represent 30% of global milk production.
Reducing plastic waste and supporting a circular economy
Reducing plastic waste is a key component of reducing dairy’s impact on the Canadian environment. The dairy processing industry knows it needs to do its part to support a circular economy. That is why DPAC is a proud implementing partner of the Canada Plastic Pact. DPAC has committed to support Canada’s dairy processors in meeting CPP’s ambitious 2025 plastic-reduction targets, including:
- Defining a list of plastic packaging designated as problematic or unnecessary & take measure to eliminate them
- Supporting efforts towards 100% of plastic packaging being designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable
- Ensuring that at least 50% of plastic packaging is effectively recycled or composted
- At least 30% recycled content across all plastic packaging
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March 30, 2022 –
The Dairy Processors Association of Canada (DPAC) is proud to announce its support for Pathways to Dairy Net Zero, a global initiative to reduce the dairy sector’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 30 years.
Canada’s dairy processing industry is committed to improving its environmental impact and playing a role in creating a sustainable future for Canada’s agri-food sector. In supporting Pathways to Dairy Net Zero, DPAC aims to support the important efforts of Canada’s dairy processors to address the industry’s GHG emissions, identify ways to reduce the waste created in the supply chain, and improve the energy efficiency of its operations.
To this end, DPAC joins more than 100 organizations that represent 30% of global milk production that have committed to supporting and promoting the principles of the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero Declaration:
- Mitigation: Continuing to improve production and process efficiency to further reduce the GHG emissions intensity of milk and dairy products.
- Greenhouse gas removals: Enhancing production practices that protect carbon sinks (soil, forests, grass, peatlands) and complement natural ecosystems.
- Avoidance and adaptation: Improving practices such as feed, manure, fertilizer and energy management.
- Insets and offsets: Identifying and implementing alternative, credible reduction options.
- Measurement and monitoring: Measuring GHG emissions to plan mitigation and monitoring progress.
- Overall support: Promoting the global initiative and emphasizing the dairy sector’s climate ambition.
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero builds on DPAC’s previous sustainability commitments as an implementation partner of the Canada Plastics Pact (2021) and a signatory to the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam (2017), which recognizes the role that dairy plays in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Work is currently underway to identify opportunities for broad industry action that can be led by DPAC toward improved environmental sustainability.
Learn more about the Declaration, Pathways to Dairy Net Zero initiatives, and DPAC’s commitments to sustainability.
Statements
“Pathways to Dairy Net Zero is an important opportunity for the global dairy industry to take collaborative action to reduce emissions and contribute to improved environmental sustainability. Canada’s dairy processing industry is focused on continuous improvement and doing its part to secure a sustainable future for Canada’s agri-food sector.”
– Mathieu Frigon, President and CEO, Dairy Processors Association of Canada
About Pathways to Dairy Net Zero
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero, the first climate initiative of its kind in the world, will accelerate dairy’s climate action by reducing the sector’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 30 years. Its mission is driven by the global dairy sector and supported by leading scientific and research organizations around the world.
The initiative was officially launched in September 2021 during Climate Week and just prior to the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit. To date, more than 100 leading organizations, including Global Dairy Platform, the International Dairy Federation, Dairy Farmers of Canada, and numerous DPAC members have already declared their support. Collectively, these supporters represent approximately 30% of total milk production worldwide.
The Pathways to Dairy Net Zero is developed on six main principles:
- Mitigation: Continuing to improve production and process efficiency to further reduce the GHG emissions intensity of milk and dairy products.
- Greenhouse gas removals: Enhancing production practices that protect carbon sinks (soil, forests, grass, peatlands) and complement natural ecosystems.
- Avoidance and adaptation: Improving practices such as feed, manure, fertilizer and energy management.
- Insets and offsets: Identifying and implementing alternative, credible reduction options.
- Measurement and monitoring: Measuring GHG emissions to plan mitigation and monitoring progress.
- Overall support: Promoting the global initiative and emphasizing the dairy sector’s climate ambition.
For additional information on the Declaration and Pathways to Dairy Net Zero.
September 9, 2021 –
Canadians increasingly want their food to be produced in Canada. So much so, that almost all Canadians (82%), support the government doing more to encourage investment in Canada’s farming and food processing sectors. This is an issue that cuts across political affiliation and locations.
This election, DPAC’s policy priorities focus on the areas that will create an environment that encourages investment and innovation in Canada’s dairy industry now and in the future: addressing the impacts of free trade agreements like CETA, CPTPP and CUSMA; restoring fairness in the relationship between Canada’s retailers and their suppliers; and investing in sustainability.
Read DPAC’s full list of policy priorities for the 2021 federal election here: DPAC 2021 Election Priorities.
August 19, 2021 –
Furthering the goal of supporting sustainable use of resources in dairy farming and processing sectors to minimize the sector’s impact on the environment, DPAC is excited to be part of the Canada Plastics Pact as an implementation member to work toward a global vision for a circular economy for plastic.
DPAC looks forward to working alongside with the Canada Plastics Pact to ensure that Canadian dairy processors can continue to provide nutritious and delicious products to Canadians in an environmentally sustainable fashion.
The organization joins other industry and government organizations in supporting Canada’s processors meet plastic-reduction targets:
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- Define a list of plastic packaging designated as problematic or unnecessary & take measure to eliminate them
- Support effort towards 100% of plastic packaging being designed to be reusable, recyclable or compostable
- Ensure that at least 50% of plastic packaging is effectively recycled or composted
- At least 30% recycled content across all plastic packaging
Encouraging sustainable use of resources in dairy farming and processing and striving to minimize the sector’s impact on the environment is a priority for DPAC and the entire dairy sector. A number of DPAC members are signatories to the Canada Plastics Pact.
About the Canada Plastics Pact
The Canada Plastics Pact (CPP) is creating a circular economy in Canada in which plastic waste is kept in the economy and out of the environment. It is a unique multi-stakeholder, industry-led, cross-value chain collaboration platform which aims to tackle plastic packaging waste and pollution by bringing together businesses, government, non-governmental organizations and other key actors in the local plastics value chain. Canada Plastics Pact Partners are united, working together on achieving clear, actionable targets by the year 2025.
Further information: plasticspact.ca | @CanadaPact