Arla Foods Dismisses Report as 'Inaccurate' Amidst Criticism on Sustainability Efforts

Arla Foods, a leading multinational dairy cooperative, has responded to a 100-page report scrutinizing its sustainability efforts by stating it contains ‘multiple inaccuracies’ and does not accurately represent its science-based initiatives. The report, produced by The Changing Markets Foundation and Greenpeace Nordic, claims Arla favors larger industrial farms, lacks transparency in methane emissions, and questions its carbon footprint calculations.

The report suggests that the cooperative could reduce emissions through biogas production, a claim Arla does not recognize. It also criticizes Arla's sustainability programs, Arlagarden and FarmAhead, arguing they unfairly burden smaller farmers and lack robust emission reduction measures.

Arla disputes these claims, asserting that the report mischaracterizes their efforts. An Arla spokesperson stated that the report is “not a true reflection” of its targets and its farmers' commitment to sustainability.

Despite these disagreements, Changing Markets highlights discrepancies in Arla's emission reduction achievements and net-zero goals. They call for Arla to establish a robust methane reduction target and improve its product portfolio to include more plant-based alternatives to effectively address sustainability challenges.