Arla strives to work responsible throughout the supply chain with their Environmental Strategy 2020, which includes a zero waste vision. Where waste is unavoidable, it is treated as a resource to be reused or recycled.

Arla has set three targets to fulfil their vision: 

• Recyclable packaging, aim to achieve 100 percent recyclable packaging by 2020 by focusing on co-operation with suppliers, researchers and partnerships with key customers, and by evaluating and selecting the right packaging in relation to design and materials. Arla is engaged in development projects for facilitating recycling ex. with the City of Copenhagen to recycle milk cartons and plastics.

• Reduce food waste, aim to help consumers bring down their food waste by 50 percent by easier ahead planning in food purchases and through guides in making full use of products, e.g. online tips and tricks for using leftovers, weekly dinner schedules and climate friendly recipes. Another method is optimal packaging in terms of portion size and ability to be completely emptied by consumers. Arla participates in EU’s FUSIONS project to reduce food waste through social innovation.

• Waste from production, aims to eliminate waste to landfill from production by using waste product for animal feed or biogas production, cooperating with waste management vendors or suppliers to recycle or reuse solid waste. An example is a new developed technology from Arla’s Food Ingredients to use leftover acid whey from yoghurt into ingredients for regular food rather than dumps into land farming or feedstock, thereby fine-tuning the value chain and product life cycle.