This week, Starbucks Canada initiated a fresh partnership with Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) to propel sustainability forward in the dairy industry.
Starbucks Canada has pledged CAD 500,000 (approximately $364,426) to fund dairy sustainability projects throughout this year, championing the endeavors of Canadian dairy farmers as they strive for net zero emissions.
The partnership encompasses three projects. The first, already underway, involves collaboration with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Lactanet for FCC’s Dairy Sustainability Incentive program. This program recognizes farmers who effectively implement environmental best practices and promotes ongoing sustainable farming by offering annual incentives to qualifying participants.
David Wiens, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada, expressed, “Starbucks’ support will acknowledge more farmers’ dedication to environmental stewardship and illustrate to Canadians that sustainability starts with the individuals producing their food. As farmers aim for net-zero emissions by 2050, we understand we cannot do it alone. DFC warmly welcomes Starbucks as they join us on this part of the journey.”
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Lori Digulla, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Starbucks Canada, remarked, “At Starbucks, we’re dedicated to partnering with others to support thriving communities and safeguard the environment. As a company that relies on the dairy industry daily, we feel a responsibility to innovate and cooperate in responsibly and sustainably sourcing dairy. Teaming up with DFC, we aim to merge our expertise and resources to benefit Canada’s farming community and ensure a sustainable future for dairy production.”
Dairy plays a crucial role on the Starbucks menu, and bolstering the enduring vitality of the dairy industry represents one of the company’s recent strides toward sustainability. Just last week, the coffee giant teamed up with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Dairy Methane Action Alliance on a global scale, alongside Californian dairy brand Clover Sonoma.
The alliance was initially unveiled in December 2023 during the UN’s climate summit (COP28) in Dubai, with Danone, Bel Group, General Mills, Lactalis USA, Kraft Heinz, and Nestlé among its founding members.
By participating in the initiative, these corporations undertake to publicly disclose methane emissions within their dairy supply chains on an annual basis by the end of 2024. Each company has pledged to develop and release a methane action plan by the close of the year.
Starbucks’ action plan will specifically address methane emissions in regions where the company directly procures milk for its stores.
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Katie Anderson, Senior Director of Business Food and Forests at the Environmental Defense Fund, expressed, “We’re delighted to welcome Clover Sonoma and Starbucks to the Dairy Methane Action Alliance. With their inclusion, the alliance now encompasses an even broader spectrum of participants within the dairy sector, ranging from regional producers to processors to restaurants. This expansion underscores the growing momentum within the sector toward addressing methane emissions.”
Angela Anderson, Director of Starbucks Sustainable Dairy, further commented, “As a company, we’re dedicated to assisting farmers in our collective effort to decrease emissions throughout our dairy supply chain. We’re enthusiastic about joining the Dairy Methane Action Alliance and engaging in cross-industry collaboration to drive progress toward our resource-positive objectives.”