Emmi and WWF extend collaboration until 2024
Emmi and WWF Switzerland are extending the partnership initiated in 2016 for a further three years. WWF will therefore continue to provide Emmi with strategic support on the way to achieving its ambitious goals in the areas of climate and energy, food waste and establishing a sustainable dairy industry beyond Switzerland. This is based on a shared vision of a food system that respects the Earth’s ecological limits. The collaboration with WWF has helped Emmi to continue its tradition of building a business model aligned to broad sustainability initiatives with science-based targets and pursuing a net-zero reduction path with a 2050 horizon.
Urs Riedener, CEO of Emmi: “I’m extremely pleased that WWF Switzerland will continue to support us with its independent expertise and in its role as a critical companion, including at a strategic level. In the knowledge that our long-term success is tied to sustainable growth, a healthy planet and collective action, the partnership will help us to continue our tradition in this regard and develop our business in a responsible manner.”
Thomas Vellacott, CEO WWF Switzerland: “Emmi and the WWF share the vision of a global food system that respects the ecological limits of our planet. Together, goals have been agreed that are focused on preserving regional and global ecological carrying capacity. We look forward to continuing to accompany Emmi on this journey and supporting it as it develops innovative approaches to solutions and advancing common causes in the interests of future generations.”
Ambitious goals and measurable results
The cooperation focuses on three areas: climate and energy, food waste and sustainable dairy farming. Emmi’s target for emissions is to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) for all business areas by 60 % across the Group by 2027 and to achieve a reduction of 25 % per kilogramme of purchased raw milk in Scope 3 over the same period. Compared with 2014, Emmi has already reduced its own greenhouse gas emissions by 24 %.
Emmi is also taking a leading role in measuring food waste and aims to achieve a 50 % reduction by 2027. Following discussions with the WWF, the internationally recognised FLW standard (“Food Loss & Waste Protocol”) was introduced four years ago and is used to determine food waste at ten Emmi plants in Switzerland. Over the next few years, the metrics and measures established in Switzerland will also be implemented on a broader international basis.
Interim targets formulated as part of the partnership and targeted by 2024 (Greenhouse gas: Scope 1&2 -27 % and Scope 3 -17 % by 2024 vs 2020; Food waste: -15 % by 2024 vs 2020) will support Emmi in achieving the reduction targets set for 2027 as important milestones on the net-zero reduction path for 2050.
Focus on sustainable dairy farming and regional value creation
As part of its commitment to make sustainable dairy farming the norm, Emmi is working with its milk producers in Switzerland and increasingly also abroad to establish and further develop sustainable practices that take account of local conditions.
In Switzerland, Emmi already processes milk produced almost exclusively in accordance with the Swiss Milk Green sustainability standard and is committed to developing this standard further, particularly in the area of climate protection. Emmi is also currently working with the WWF and other experts on a criteria and evaluation system for binding production standards. This will additionally be used at the company’s international units as a basis for promoting local dairy farming based on sustainable practices.
Emmi’s sustainability model
Sustainability has a long tradition at Emmi and forms part of the business model geared towards long-term success and sustainable growth. At the beginning of this year, Emmi launched an expanded sustainability model focusing on the fields of action of employees, society and the environment, with extended targets up to 2027 based on scientific methods, as well as a netZERO 2050 vision.
The fact that Emmi has successfully established this approach as part of its business model is due in part to the collaboration with WWF Switzerland that has been in place since 2016. The principles on which the partnership is based comprise the impact of science-based sustainability measures, transparency with regard to goals and progress in this respect, and the consideration of the concerns of a wide range of stakeholders.
The continuation of the partnership underlines that Emmi is committed to its social, societal and environmental responsibilities in a wider context.
Contacts for media representatives
Emmi Corporate Communications:
Markus Abt, Head of Corporate Communications | media@emmi.com
WWF Switzerland:
Corina Gyssler, Media Spokesperson | corina.gyssler@wwf.ch
About WWF Switzerland
WWF Switzerland was set up as a foundation in Switzerland in 1961. With around 300,000 members and patrons, it is Switzerland’s leading nature and environmental protection organisation. As part of the worldwide WWF network, WWF has the following mission: Working together to protect the environment and create a future worth living for future generations. To achieve this goal, WWF is committed to preserving biodiversity around the world and helping to steer our use of resources in a sustainable direction. Important strategies to achieve these goals include promoting ecological lifestyles and encouraging businesses to take a responsible approach.
About Emmi
Emmi is the leading milk processor in Switzerland. The company dates back to 1907, when it was founded by 62 dairy farming cooperatives around Lucerne. Over the past 20 years, Emmi has grown into an international, listed group with a leading market position and strong brand concepts, such as Emmi Caffè Latte and Kaltbach cheese. It has for many years pursued a successful strategy based on three pillars: strengthening its Swiss domestic market, growth abroad and cost management. Throughout its corporate history, Emmi’s keen awareness of its responsibility to society, animal welfare and the environment has been fundamental to its mission.
In Switzerland, Emmi manufactures a comprehensive range of dairy products for its own brands and private label products for customers, including leading exports such as Emmi Caffè Latte and Kaltbach. In other countries, its products – mainly speciality products – are manufactured locally. Alongside cow’s milk, it also processes goat’s and sheep’s milk.
In Switzerland, the Emmi Group has 25 production sites. Abroad, Emmi and its subsidiaries have a presence in 14 countries, nine of which have production facilities. Emmi exports products from Switzerland to around 60 countries. Its business activities focus on the Swiss domestic market as well as western Europe and the American continent. Half of its CHF 3.7 billion in sales – over 10 % of which stems from organic products – is generated in Switzerland, the other half abroad. Almost two-thirds of its approx. 8,900 employees are currently based outside of Switzerland.