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Nestlé has confirmed its withdrawal from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, a global initiative aimed at reducing methane emissions from dairy farming.

The decision raises questions about the company’s commitment to collaborative efforts in tackling climate change, particularly as the dairy industry faces increasing scrutiny over its environmental impact.

Nestlé's departure comes as a surprise, especially given the growing emphasis on sustainability within the food industry and the pressing need to address methane emissions, which are nearly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of global warming potential.

While Nestlé did not provide specific reasons for its exit, the company highlighted its ongoing commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chains and reaffirmed its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Nestlé stated: "As part of our regular review of external partnerships, we have decided to discontinue our membership of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance". The company reported a nearly 21% reduction in methane emissions by the end of 2024 compared to 2018 levels, showcasing its efforts in this area.

The exit from the alliance reflects a broader trend of corporations reassessing their commitments to environmental coalitions amid shifting political and economic landscapes. Recent developments, such as the rollback of climate initiatives by the US administration, have contributed to a more fragmented approach to sustainability among major companies.

Earlier today (Thursday 9 October), the food giant did announce a partnership with the World Farmers' Organisation (WFO) in an effort to help make food systems more resilient to climate change. The partnership is described as a first-of-its-kind, marking the first alliance between a global food company and the largest global farmers’ association.

The EDF, which played a pivotal role in establishing the methane alliance, noted that agriculture is responsible for nearly 40% of human-caused methane emissions, predominantly from livestock.

Nestlé’s logo has been removed from EDF's main webpage, although the company’s name still appears elsewhere on the site. According to Reuters, EDF has confirmed that Nestlé ended its membership following a review of its external partnerships but did not disclose the reason for the withdrawal.

“We appreciate Nestlé’s ongoing commitment to acting on dairy emissions through its Dairy Climate Plan and Net Zero Roadmap," said Katie Anderson, senior director, business, food & forests at the EDF, in a statement to Reuters.