Nestlé, First Milk cut 1,000 metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions with renewable diesel

Photo: Nestlé

Nestlé announced June 1 that First Milk, a farmer-owned dairy cooperative, has taken a bold step towards a more sustainable future with a switch from diesel-run trucks.

Nestlé will now work with First Milk to fund hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, also known as renewable diesel, to move milk from First Milk dairy farms in Cumbria and Ayrshire in the U.K. to the nearby Nestlé factories in Dalston and Girvan.

This move is expected to cut greenhouse-gas emissions for these journeys by an impressive 83 percent, saving around 1,000 metric tons of CO2e every year, which is the equivalent of more than 200 cars on the road for a year.

Working hand-in-hand with logistics partners T. P. Niven and Wm. Armstrong, First Milk now uses HVO sourced exclusively from Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme-accredited suppliers with full traceability.

This change supports both companies’ ambitious climate goals.

Nestlé’s U.K. and Ireland division said it is committed to halving its greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

First Milk is equally determined, according to Nestlé, pledging that all milk transport and processing will use renewable fuels by 2030.

“This initiative is another important milestone on our journey to net zero,” said Emma Keller, the head of sustainability for Nestlé U.K. and Ireland. “By teaming up with First Milk and their hauliers to swap diesel for HVO, we’re making a real, measurable cut in our emissions while continuing to invest in long-term solutions for a truly sustainable dairy supply chain.” 

Fiona Roberts, the impact director at First Milk, added, “Our cooperative business is committed to producing nutritious dairy products with ever-lower environmental impact, and transport is a key focus in our net-zero journey. Switching to HVO for the equivalent supply and delivery of milk into Nestlé Dalston and Girvan is a significant step forward, delivering immediate and substantial carbon savings, and showing how collaboration across the supply chain can accelerate progress towards our shared sustainability goals.”