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McDonald’s and FrieslandCampina have started a new collaboration aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the dairy supply chain. Hoping to slash emissions in the production of dairy supplied to McDonald's restaurants in the Netherlands and Belgium, the partnership aligns with both companies’ 2050 climate ambitions. McDonald's and FrieslandCampina have been working together for over three decades – FrieslandCampina is a key supplier to McDonald's, providing ingredients for items such as ice creams, milkshakes and dairy-based meat substitutes like Valess. This partnership has evolved to encompass a broader mission, focusing on reducing the carbon footprint associated with dairy production. The existing collaboration between FrieslandCampina and McDonald’s Netherlands and Belgium will result in a 14% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025, compared to 2019. Joost Elshof, director supply chain at McDonald's Netherlands, said: “Climate change is an environmental issue of our time. McDonald's therefore wants to work with all its partners and suppliers throughout the chain on innovative solutions that limit the negative impact on the climate. With this extra dimension within our already great collaboration with FrieslandCampina, we come closer to our emission reduction goals of 2030 and our overall ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050." Roger Loo, president of professional and trading at FrieslandCampina, added: "FrieslandCampina is dedicated to producing dairy in a sustainable way. We measure and track our progress and drive improvement. Over the years, our efforts have resulted in a decrease in the carbon footprint of our dairy products. Our dairy farmers have played a crucial role in this achievement through their commitment to making their dairy farms more and more sustainable.” He continued: “Collaborating with valuable partners such as McDonald's is crucial in our mission to create a positive impact. Through this partnership, we can continue to support and reward our member dairy farmers." The ‘Annual Nutrient Cycling Assessment’ is a monitoring tool that is used by FrieslandCampina member dairy farmers. The data-driven approach gives farm-specific insights and results on climate and biodiversity. FrieslandCampina uses the tool to track progress and reward member dairy farmers with financial premiums for their results, as well as being rewarded for results on outdoor grazing and animal health and welfare via its ‘Foqus planet’ sustainable development programme. The partnership contributes to the support and rewards for farmers. Measures farmers take to reduce GHG emissions include lengthening the grazing season, the use of feed with a lower footprint, the use of feed additives to lower methane emissions and separating manure and urine on the farm. Many member dairy farmers also generate renewable energy, which is subsequently used on FrieslandCampina’s production sites.