Caring for our planet
We aim to achieve “netZERO” by 2050 at the latest, while driving circularity across our operations.
As a milk processor, our business is always dependent on the availability of natural resources such as clean water and fertile land. An intact environment is, therefore, one of the most important pillars of our sustainability model.
For this reason, we have set ourselves clear and ambitious targets. We aim to drastically reduce our CO2e footprint at all stages of the value chain, reduce our water consumption and reduce waste. We are also working on packaging solutions that are more circular in nature to avoid waste and unnecessary costs.
netZERO 2050 Vision
With our netZERO 2050 vision, we are extending our CO2e reduction targets to encompass the entire value chain, taking us even closer to our net-zero goals. We do this on the basis of scientifically validated CO2e reduction targets based on the Science Based Targets initiative.
What is the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)?
The SBTi is a partnership between the United Nations Global Compact initiative and NGOs such as the World Resources Institute and the WWF. The SBTi’s validated scientific targets help companies like Emmi to align their CO2e footprint to a net-zero reduction path. This is an important instrument for limiting global warming to 1.5°C, the target set at the UN Climate Conference in Paris.
Our goals for 2027
Reducing emissions
We are committed to reducing our direct CO2e emissions by 60% by 2027 (Scope 1 and 2). To achieve this, we will continue to focus on energy analyses and reduction measures. We are increasingly covering the remaining demand with alternative energy sources. We have also extended our commitments to our entire value chain (Scope 3). We have therefore set ourselves the target of reducing emissions from milk production by 25% per kg of milk. Our long-term goal is to achieve CO2e neutrality by 2050. The switch to scientifically supported reduction targets based on the Science Based Targets initiative is also of particular importance.
> Support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Although we were able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 25% compared to the base year (2014), we recorded an increase of 5 percentage points compared to the previous year. Without Emmi Dessert USA (acquisition effect), a reduction of 27% would have been achieved compared to the base year. In the 2024 reporting year, Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions increased by 8% compared to the previous year (+7,900 tonnes CO2e). The main drivers of this development are the integration of the subsidiary Emmi Dessert USA and refrigerant losses in Chile. The switch from non-renewable primary energy to renewable biomass in division Americas (in Chile) was encouraging. This led to a reduction of around 3,800 tonnes of CO2e in the current year. Further reductions were achieved through energy efficiency measures at the production plants in Bettinehoeve (Netherlands) and Mahdia (Tunisia).
Emissions in the supply chain (Scope 3) fell by 4% in the reporting year compared to the previous year. This is due to an improved database in division Americas (Chile) for milk volumes.
> Information on measures and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at our milk suppliers in Switzerland.
1) Fluctuations compared to previous years due to data and calculation adjustments.
Calculations of all key figures: Methodology for non-financial figures 2024.
Reducing waste
We are committed to strengthening the circular economy and want to halve waste and food waste in our own operations. The remaining waste may no longer be disposed of in landfill sites by 2027 at the latest. Packaging is also very important to us. Here we are aiming for 100% recyclability and the use of at least 30% recycled materials.
Inorganic waste sent for incineration increased by 19% in absolute terms in 2024 compared to the previous year. Waste disposed of in landfills increased by 31% compared to the previous year. This increase is due to a correction in data collection at the Tunisian plant and changes to local regulations in Brazil. As a result, waste intensity increased from 7.6 kg per tonne of product to 9.6 kg per tonne of product, which corresponds to an increase of 26% compared to the previous year (excluding acquisition effect: +18%).
In the division Europe (Germany, Belgium, Italy, France and Austria), following clarification with the service provider at Pasticceria Quadrifoglio (Italy), the last remaining quantities of waste that were previously disposed of in landfill were diverted to incineration in 2024. This means that no more operational inorganic waste from Emmi’s plants in division Europe is sent to landfill. Emmi has also achieved its target in the division Switzerland.
Although Emmi was able to reduce food waste in Switzerland compared to the base year (-4%), the food waste rate in Switzerland increased by 11% in 2024 compared to the previous year. The main driver of this increase is the growth in cheese production and the associated increase in the quantity of whey as a by-product. In total, 57% of whey was returned to the food channel in 2024 (not considered food waste), while 30% of whey is used as animal feed and 13 % is used in biogas production.
Emmi is constantly looking for new options and partnerships to further utilise by-products such as whey or oat pomace. For example, Emmi is working with various start-ups to develop new products from these by-products.
The proportion of recyclable plastic packaging in Switzerland is 23% (target by 2027: 100%). Compared to 2023, this figure has fallen significantly thanks to a new, more accurate calculation method. The proportion of recycled material is 4% in Switzerland, 18% in Italy and 1% in Spain (target by 2027: 30%).
By constantly switching milk drinks from HPDE bottles to PET bottles, Emmi Switzerland is increasing the recyclability of its packaging, as PET bottles can be collected via PET-Recycling Schweiz (PRS) and managed in a closed loop. With its own PET plant in Ostermundigen, Emmi can achieve a further positive environmental impact: as blanks are inflated to PET bottles on site, less packaging transport is required.
Cheese packaging made from PET material was switched to 100% rPET in 2024. Milk-based drinks that previously consisted of PE bottles were switched to PET bottles. As a result, Emmi can use 25% recycled materials from the cycle of PET-Recycling Schweiz (PRS) for each bottle.
1) Fluctuations compared to previous years due to data and calculation adjustments.
Calculations of all key figures: Methodology for non-financial figures 2024.
Reducing water use
Clean water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource in some regions. For this reason, we are focusing on arid risk areas, where we are committed to reducing the fresh water consumption in our facilities by 50%. In other countries, we are aiming for a reduction of 15%.
Emmi’s water intensity is currently 1%, or 25% higher than in the base year 2019. One of the reasons for this is the extensive product range, as the many production changes lead to higher cleaning costs despite efficiency measures. There was also a shift in the product range towards products with a higher dry matter content, such as cheese and powder, compared to the base year.
In 2024, the subsidiary Kaiku in Spain continued to optimise its cleaning processes, eliminated leakage points and raised awareness among employees. Thanks to comprehensive cost-saving and optimisation measures, absolute water consumption at the plant in Pamplona was reduced by around 41% compared to the 2019 baseline year.
Calculations of all key figures: Methodology for non-financial figures 2024.
