Emmi aims to reduce its global CO₂ emissions by 25% by 2020 as it benefits from the progress of its Swiss subsidiary Mittelland Molkerei.
A step towards the target is being achieved with the connection of Mittelland Molkerei to the local heating district in Suhr, Switzerland. The annual CO₂ emissions of the subsidiary – which specialises in the production of milk, butter and cream – will be reduced by 80% from 2020.
Emmi said that the manufacturing of dairy products requires large amounts of energy, and in recent years all of the firm’s major production sites in Switzerland have been subjected to an energy analysis.
The thermal energy consumption of Swiss Emmi sites is around 180 gigawatt hours a year, of which 32 gigawatt hours are used by Mittelland Molkerei. Until recently the energy was primarily derived from natural gases resulting in CO₂ emissions amounting to 6,500 tonnes annually.
The reduction in CO₂ emissions amounts to 5,000 tonnes annually, corresponding to 12% of the CO₂ emissions produced by Emmi in Switzerland in 2017. Alongside the conversion to district heating in Suhr, Emmi’s most important measure in 2017 was the switch to hydroelectric power for all Swiss sites.
In 2016 Emmi bought the remaining 40% of Mittelland Molkerei from AZM Verwaltungs, increasing its stake to 100%.
Mittelland Molkerei has been majority owned by Emmi since its founding in 2005. The company processes milk into butter, cream and consumer milk in both pasteurised and UHT formats.
Earlier this week Emmi increased its stake in the Netherlands’ AVH Dairy Trade amid a continuing focus on goat’s milk products.
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