Protecting forests and biodiversity

As an agri-food company, we rely on agricultural supply chains. Yet we know that untraceable raw materials can stem from deforestation. Lactalis can be exposed, either directly or indirectly via its suppliers or partner farmers. At Lactalis, we recognize forests’ role in maintaining water and soil cycles, carbon sinks and biodiversity. Our Biodiversity and Forest Footprint Committee has mapped our highest-risk inputs and is working on policies and actions with scientific partners and NGOs. 

For the palm oil and by-products we use in our processing activities, we have established a roadmap to cover our volumes with RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) certification. It guarantees the lack of deforestation and the preservation of peatland as well as the protection of labour and human rights, all whilst ensuring decent wages for plantation workers. 

 Paper and cardboard account for 54% of our Group’s packaging volumes (2019), primarily from recycled sources. Some applications require the use of virgin materials, however, particularly for food safety reasons. We plan to have all these residual volumes certified (2019: 81%). 

 Action against deforestation – conversion to animal feed is more complex. Our first step was mapping our risk exposure. In late 2021, Lactalis partnered the Earthworm Foundation to address the issue. We created a tool estimating the volumes of soy and palm by-products used in feed intakes in eleven of our biggest milk collection countries. With the NGO, we analyze the results using the TRASE tool, measuring the flows’ traceability. Our levers? Educating farmers and encouraging them to increase their protein self-sufficiency. We also call on animal feed suppliers to pledge with us to driving the market towards more traceable and sustainable food supply chains.