The Role of packaging in a sustainable dairy chain

The sustainable performance of packaging has been a long-time focus for business, regulators and non-governmental organisations. The role of packaging in supporting the dairy sector's drive to meet its sustainability challenges – which for good reason have so far mainly focused on farming – is now receiving closer attention. There is growing pressure for information and evidence to demonstrate the environmental sustainability of all sectors including dairy. The worldwide dairy industry responded in 2009 with its Global Agenda for Action on Climate Change. The Agenda has emerged within a context where a growing number of governments are adopting greenhouse gas reduction measures, and legislation on producer responsibility for packaging waste is spreading globally. Retailers, facing mounting consumer expectations and closely monitored by NGOs, are active in driving sustainability requirements throughout their supply chains and have put a strong emphasis on packaging in achieving this. Leading consumer goods companies and retailers have together developed a set of global metrics for packaging sustainability, likely to become a worldwide reference. Looking further ahead, global food security will make the prevention of food losses, particularly those linked to distribution and consumption, a major priority for packaging, and also create a sustainability challenge whose environmental dimensions may increasingly share prominence with its economic and social imperatives.