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Protecting nature

At Arla, we believe that a symbiotic relationship with nature is absolutely essential to sustainable farming.

The decline in biodiversity is a threat to our future wellbeing. Biodiversity is essential for many ecosystem services such as food production, water provision, nutrient recycling and biological control of flora/fauna populations. Using land for grazing and growing feed, dairy farmers sometimes affect natural habitats needed for biodiversity.

We have renewed our ambitions, and we are working to leave our farms in even better and healthier shape for the next generation.

Actions we’ve taken to protect nature…

The grass is greener

It all starts with the basic building blocks: clean air and water. Aiming to keep cycles of nitrogen and phosphorus in balance, we achieve this through careful farm management and increasing grass production and grazing.

Promoting biodiversity

We are continually exploring ways to support natural ecosystems, from planting on our roof tops and leaving land open to wild growth to nurturing bee colonies. More than 15% of our farmers report to be part of a biodiversity activity with an independent nature organization (2019) and many more have their own initiatives.

Near and far

We have many initiatives in place that protect the natural surroundings of our own farms, but we are also seeking to nurture the environment whenever sourcing ingredients from afar.

Digging into Regenerative Dairy Farming

In recent years regenerative farming - or regenerative agriculture, as it's sometimes called - has gained a lot of attention. At Arla, we've launched a pilot programme that explores how regenerative farming methods can be applied to dairy farms. On top of that, our organic farmer owners have committed to increase their focus on biodiversity and soil health.

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Project Pollinator Gets Bees Buzzing Again

A group of Arla famers in the UK have launched a trial initiative to increase populations of wild bees by devoting farmland to their colonies, which are vital to pollinating many crops we rely on.

Get the buzz

Project Pollinator Gets Bees Buzzing Again

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Why Waste Wastewater?

Every day at one of Arla's mozarella plants, the Rødkærsbro Mejeri, we clean 450 m3 of wastewater that is a natural result of the cheese-production process, releasing it back into local rivers or reusing it in its own facilities.

Learn how

The UN Global Goals of Sustainable Development

Our efforts to protect nature supports UN SDGs

No. 14 - Life Below Water by implementing programmes that deliver clean water from our Farms & Operations.
No. 15 - Life on Land by promoting bio-diversity on our farms.
No. 17 - Partnerships for the Goals by working with bio-diversity experts and supporting local eco-systems and schemes.

Arla's Climate Ambition

Our climate ambition is to become carbon net zero by 2050. On the road to net zero emissions, we are committed to reducing CO2e emissions significantly by 2030:

63% reduction in production, owned logistics and energy usage (consistent with reductions required to keep global warming to 1.5°C)*
30% reduction on farms and of emissions from sourced whey, 3rd party logistics and packaging

*Approved by Science Based Targets initiative