Published 11-15-21
Issued by Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
The report details progress against the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment, the industry’s voluntary pledge to demonstrate positive impacts in environmental sustainability, animal care, community contributions and food safety.
The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy released its biennial 2020 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report inclusive of progress made in 2019 and 2020 within environmental stewardship and broader social responsibility commitments to people, animals and communities.
The report provides a transparent accounting of the progress and impact that the dairy community has made against the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment since its launch in 2018. Those dairy companies and processors that have voluntarily signed onto the Stewardship Commitment represent 75 percent of U.S. milk production* and are dedicated to nourishing a growing global population with responsibly produced dairy foods and beverages.
Key highlights include the following:
A first for U.S. dairy, the Report also incorporates nationally-aggregated processor data against Stewardship Commitment metrics. Dairy processors developed and provided ongoing support for a reporting tool to serve as a credible and consistent way to calculate and track processor sustainability progress. Aggregations on GHG and water intensity, as well as other sustainability metrics, will serve as a baseline for future reporting.
For more information about the industry’s sustainability work and the dairy checkoff, visit www.usdairy.com.
*At the close of the 2020 Sustainability Report reporting period (December 31, 2020), the Stewardship Commitment represented 74% of U.S. milk production.
Media Contact
Lisa McComb
630-484-1158
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About the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment
The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® is a leadership forum that brings together the dairy community and third parties to address the changing needs and expectations of consumers and customers. Initiated in 2008 by dairy farmers through the dairy checkoff, Innovation Center leaders and members collaborate on important areas like the environment, nutrition and health, animal care, food safety, and community contributions. Through the Innovation Center, the U.S. dairy community demonstrates its commitment to continuous improvement from farm to table, striving to ensure a socially responsible and economically viable dairy community. For more information, visit www.usdairy.com/about-us/innovation-center