“We accept the challenge of sustainability and the new obligations that will result from it. The Italian dairy industry is ready, and it will be working with a reduced environmental impact in a few years time.” This is how Giuseppe Ambrosi, President of Assolatte, commented on the indications and tools needed to implement the European Green Deal, the new EU certification system for dairy products – during an event that the Italian dairy association recently held in Milan.
“It is good for the European Commission to set the target of carbon neutrality by 2050 – Ambrosi stressed – and it is important to structure a path and set a goal to put order to a process that the dairy industries have already started some time ago. And for sustainability to be an added value for the market, it is necessary to work together to harmonize indicators, certifications and labels.”
THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL STEP BY STEP
During the debate Valeria Forlin, representative of DG Climate of the European Commission, presented the European ‘carbon farming’ project, that is, the possibility for the primary sector to store carbon dioxide absorption and certify the positive role of pastures and forests.
Helene Simonin, EDA, presented the Product Environmental Footprint for dairy products, an innovative methodology developed by European industry and approved by the Commission, useful to assess the environmental footprint of different dairy productions.
Pierre Barrucand – an environmental expert from the French dairy association ATLA – presented the eco-friendly alternative technologies currently used in three fields: installations (BREF), water reuse, energy efficiency and packaging.
ITALY’S DAIRY INDUSTRIES PATH TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY
“The road is long but the goal is important”, concluded Ambrosi. “We have already taken many steps in the right direction, as well as considerable investments to optimize our processes. We are moving forward with commitment and determination, but the goals and measures available must be consistent.”