Like other agricultural industries, dairy is dependent on natural resources. We are very mindful of our stewardship role and the need to look after water, biodiversity and soil, as well as reduce our waste and emissions.

Our goals

To ensure we tackle climate change head on and are part of the solution, we are committed through the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework to achieving the following goals by 2030:

• Improve land management (Framework Goal 8). Targets include: protecting waterways and riparian zones, soil and nutrient management planning, action on biodiversity and deforestation.
• Increase water use efficiency (Framework Goal 9). Targets include: reducing water consumption, improving water use and productivity, recycling water, monitoring consumption and planning for water security.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 30% across whole industry on 2015 levels (Framework Goal 10)
• Reduce waste (Framework Goal 11). Targets include: diverting waste from landfill, reducing use of sileage wrap, participating in the Australian Packaging Covenant, all packaging to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 and halving food waste.

Key achievements in 2021

• 94 per cent of dairy farmers take action to reduce GHG emissions.
• Dairy companies have cut GHG emissions by 25.5 per cent between 2010/11 and 2020/21.
• Australian dairy industry supports the NFF’s policy of net zero carbon across the Australian economy by 2050 (with conditions).
• Dairy companies reduced solid waste sent to landfill by 6.5 per cent per ML of raw milk processed (compared to 2019/2000) and this is a 41 per cent reduction since 2010/11.
• Australian dairy commits to 100 per cent of packaging to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 (if not before).

Check out our progress on our goals against baseline and 2030 targets in the 2021 Australian Dairy Sustainability Progress Report.