Emmi believes it is on track to achieve its ambitious sustainability targets with a 2027 horizon. These targets are based on the Emmi sustainability model – covering the pillars people, communities and planet – as well as a net-zero reduction path. Emmi has made progress in the development of its employees. In addition, together with partners, it has established a science-based catalogue of criteria for sustainable milk. Emmi likewise recorded a good performance in the decarbonization of its energy supply and the reduction of waste and food waste.

“Our employees form the basis of our success, which also depends on sustainable and profitable growth, strong partnerships and an intact planet. With our long-standing commitment to sustainability and the progress we have made, particularly with regard to the catalogue of criteria for sustainable milk, we are also creating added value beyond our internal sphere of influence,” said Gerold Schatt, Head of Sustainability at the Emmi Group.

Emmi made progress in the pillars defined in the Emmi sustainability model: people, communities and planet.

In the people pillar, three out of four employees in Switzerland (+17% compared with the previous year) have a development plan in place, and almost half have one at the international level. Additionally, in 2022, almost every third position across the Group was filled internally.

In the communities pillar, with a focus on sustainable dairy, Emmi has developed a science-based catalogue of criteria for sustainable milk in collaboration with Berne University of Applied Sciences’ School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL) and in coordination with WWF, thus making sustainable milk measurable. In addition, it has joined the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero initiative.

In Switzerland, it has also recorded successes: more milk suppliers are producing their goods according to the “Sustainable Swiss Milk” industry standard. The co-initiated resource project “KlimaStaR Milk”, which aims to make the Swiss dairy industry more competitive with respect to climate protection, food competition and competition for land, also got off to a successful start.

Emmi continued to decarbonise its energy supply in line with the net-zero reduction path for 2050 and was able to reduce its internal greenhouse gas emissions by 10% compared with the previous year. Emmi has commissioned an innovative solar thermal system in Langnau, for example, and also installed photovoltaic systems, including on the roof of the Quillayes Surlat cheese dairy in Chile. Together with its partners, it is also planning an ecosystem in the form of a wood-fired power plant in Dagmersellen. In the planet pillar, Emmi also reduced waste by 4% and food waste by 5% compared with the previous year. Due to changes in the product portfolio, the water intensity rate has deteriorated by 5%. Further efforts are also required in the recyclability of packaging to make it fully recyclable by 2027. In Switzerland, this figure currently sits at around 45%.

Photo courtesy of Emmi Group.