Plan for greener dairy industry

The plan looks at the supply chain from farmers to retailers

The dairy industry and environment ministers are to give details of how they intend to reduce the effects milk production has on the environment.

The Milk Roadmap includes measures such as sourcing half of all packaging from recycled materials by 2020.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' plan also aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms by 20-30 per cent.

Milk and meat production accounts for 7% of all UK emissions, Defra says.

It said the roadmap aimed to address the environmental consequences of producing liquid milk through the supply chain from farms to retailers.

Environmental impact

Among the targets outlined in the draft document are commitments to boost the amount of farmland covered by environmental stewardship schemes to 65%, and measures to improve animal welfare and cut emissions from soils and fertilisers.

Producers have also pledged to improve water efficiency by up to 15% per litre, source 40% of energy from renewables by 2020 and recycle or recover 70% of non-natural waste on farms.

Processors have committed to doing their bit by aiming to source 20% of non-transport energy from renewables or combined heat and power, and to a 30% reduction in water use.

There are very few households without a carton of milk in the fridge Jeff Rooker Food and Farming minister

The draft document, which will be reviewed in September, suggests major retailers should establish good relationships with farmers and milk processors to help meet the targets.

Food and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker said: "Dairy products are enjoyed by almost everyone in the UK. There are very few households without a carton of milk in the fridge.

"The dairy industry has acted responsibly in the past to cut its environmental impact and this roadmap provides a major new tool to achieve that.

"Delivering on the targets contained in the document will be a significant achievement."

Around half of all milk produced remains as a liquid, with the rest made into butter, cheese, yoghurt and other products.

The roadmap was drawn up by a working group chaired by Dairy UK, with membership from across the milk supply chain including feed and fertiliser manufacturers, farming organisations, processors, retailers, packaging suppliers and consumers organisations.

Dairy UK director general Jim Begg said: "I am proud of the measures that our industry has committed itself to, and proud that we are the first sector to draw up one of these ground breaking Road Maps.

"I believe we are setting an important example to other sectors and to the rest of the world."