Standard method for determining the carbon footprint of dairy products reduces confusion

The global dairy industry through the International Dairy Federation (IDF) has developed a methodology to determine the carbon footprint of dairy products regardless of the geographic region in the world where the products are produced. In November 2010, the IDF launched the publication “A common carbon footprint approach for dairy, a guide to standard life cycle assessment methodology for the dairy sector.” The development of internationally harmonized standards and methodological guidelines for calculating the carbon footprint of milk and dairy products allows the dairy industry to support the production of consistent and comparable carbon footprint figures internationally and enables the evaluation of dairy products on a consistent basis. This will support the evolution of an efficient and sustainable global dairy industry that is continually reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, and allow the dairy industry to demonstrate a credible focus on environmental issues to retailers, customers, and potential critics. A common method for estimating the size of the carbon footprint for dairying will reduce confusion and allow policy makers, producers, and others to make more environmentally friendly decisions.