Imported dairy products possibly greener than locally produced

Singapore - Shipping dairy products from Australia and New Zealand into Europe may not necessarily produce a larger carbon footprint than locally produced milk, said Barry Harris, director of Fonterra milk supply.

The issue of higher carbon emission with imports of dairy products from Australia and New Zealand, which caused quite a stir in Europe and particularly the UK some 18 months ago, could be unfounded, the director said.

Speaking at the SCM Logistics World 2008 conference, Harris said the company closely monitors its manufacturing and transportation footprint in New Zealand and around the world. The company has done internal reviews on waste reductions and how to improve efficiencies.

"[Although] we are almost entirely dependent on ships for the transport of our products, we always make sure we have a fuel efficient operation and work with companies and supply chain specialists that are able to provide us with cost effective and sustainable [methods]."

The issue of higher carbon emissions with the import of milk from New Zealand to Europe 18 months ago could spur consumers to purchase Europe-produced dairy products instead. 

 

Harris says the company has debunked the theory based on the results from a carbon footprint assessment exercise carried by Fonterra last year comparing dairy products produced locally in Europe and imported from New Zealand.

The carbon footprint assessment exercise was carried out on its five major products to twelve different markets, collaborating with the University of New South Wales, New Zealand Crown Research Institutes SCION and AgResearch to cover three distinct parts of Fonterra's ‘cow to customer' supply chain - On farm, processing and distribution. 

"In summary, the comparison of supply chain or products coming from New Zealand to customers and consumers around the world on the average has a 30% lower carbon emission than the equivalent of European counterparts," said Harris.

Fonterra are involved in a number of environmental initiatives, including the Dairy Industry Strategy for Sustainable Environmental Management, Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium, the Dairying and Clean Streams Accord, and the International Standard on Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001).