The European Dairy Association (EDA) has highlighted the industry’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The EDA commissioned CE Delft, an independent Dutch research firm, to review the “facts and figures” relating to the contribution of the dairy lifecycle to climate change.


CE Delft concluded that, although global livestock emissions increased “significantly” in the 20th century, since 1990, the indications are that dairy emissions have decreased.


At current emissions levels, dairy cattle contribute 1.2% to global greenhouse emissions. Post-farm activity adds 10-20% to the dairy lifecycle.


Total emissions effectively range from 0.9-1.8 kg CO2 eq. per kg milk, the report stated.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

“The decrease in emissions over the past decade demonstrates the commitment that dairy farmers and processors have made to reduce their impact on the environment,” a spokesperson for the EDA told just-food.


The report concluded that it remains difficult to determine the factors contributing to the overall climate effect of dairy production. It recommended the establishment of general standards for lifecycle assessments in order to compile diverse data more effectively and ultimately lead to a better view on the ways to reduce dairy’s impact on climate change.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact