Whether processors, manufacturers and transportation operators already have established sustainability and sustainability reporting efforts, or are just looking to get started to respond to these growing requests, they can take advantage of new, free, science-based tools from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, D.C., and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy (established under the leadership of dairy producers), Rosemont, Ill.
EPA Energy Star Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) tools and tools from the Innovation Center such as Dairy Plant Smart and Dairy Fleet Smart help companies assess their environmental footprints against national benchmarks and measure progress; offer best management practices for mitigation; and provide the information needed to effectively communicate the sustainability of plants and products to customers and consumers.