Danone’s Karicare milk formula brand commits to carbon neutrality

Danone announced that its New Zealand milk formula brand, Karicare, will achieve carbon neutrality at each stage of the product lifecycle by 2030. Karicare will join other Danone brands – such as Horizon Organic, which has also committed to becoming carbon neutral, and Evian and Volvic, which are already carbon neutral – on Danone’s journey to becoming a zero-net carbon company by 2050.

Karicare’s journey to carbon neutrality is greatly aided by its production in New Zealand, a country well-known for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including an abundance of ‘green’ power and investments in clean transportation. New Zealand also has the ambition to be net-zero on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“At Danone, our core belief is that the health of the planet and health of people are interconnected. That’s why we’re committed to taking real steps that help us bring our products to market in a way that minimises any impact on climate change, including transitioning production of our milk formula products to practices that are more sustainable,” said Rodrigo Lima, managing director, Nutricia Oceania.

To underpin Karicare’s carbon neutral commitment, Danone will work with its New Zealand suppliers and farmers to foster regenerative agricultural practices and improve soil health, continue to invest in the decarbonization of operations and focus on packaging circularity.

Decarbonizing operations

Karicare carbon emissions associated with operations is a significant area of focus for Danone. This includes installing a biomass boiler to provide renewable heat at its South Island spray drying facility in Balclutha. Announced in July 2019, the NZ$30 million (approximately Rs 145 crore) boiler will be operational in 2021 and will eliminate around 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions every year.

According to the press statement, Danone will also move to 100% renewable electricity for all its New Zealand plants next year. Between the move to renewable energy and biomass-based heating, the Balclutha plant’s total operational CO2 emissions will be reduced by 95%.

Packaging circularity

Danone’s ambition is to make packaging 100% circular across all its brands. This means eliminating unnecessary packaging, designing for recycling, reusing or composting, and ensuring that the material produced stays in the economy and doesn’t become waste or pollution. A circular approach to packaging reduces carbon emissions due to greater reuse and recycling, leading to less reliance on virgin materials.

Karicare’s packaging across the total portfolio has a high level of recyclability due to the tin plate used in its cans and the widespread use of recyclable plastics for items such as scoops and snap-seal lids. Consistent with Danone’s global ambition, Karicare’s packaging will be either recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025.

Carbon neutral certification

The carbon-neutral journey for Karicare will commence with the newly launched Karicare Gold Plus+ Organic, which will be certified carbon neutral in 2022. All other products in the Karicare range will be progressively certified up to 2030 at the latest.

“Danone’s approach to carbon neutrality is to focus on reductions first and foremost,” continued Lima. “We continuously act together with our partners to reduce our emissions in agriculture, operations, and packaging, then taking responsibility for offsetting remaining emissions to achieve a carbon-neutral position.

“With carbon neutral Karicare, we’re providing consumers with a more sustainable option and giving them the opportunity to choose a better future for their family.”

Danone India

Danone is a leading multi-local food and beverage company building on health-focused and fast-growing categories in three businesses — Essential Dairy and Plant-Based products, Waters and Specialized Nutrition. With its ‘One Planet.

Dedicated to bringing health through food to as many people as possible, Danone started its nutrition business in India in 2012 by acquiring the nutrition portfolio from Wockhardt Group. Danone India offers a range of specialized products across life stages that includes pregnancy, infants, young children, and adults, under-recognized Indian and global brands like Aptamil, Neocate, Farex, Protinex, Dexolac, and Nusobee. Headquartered in Mumbai, Danone strives to address the local nutritional needs of Indian consumers through innovation and science that supports healthier choices. In 2018, Danone rationalized its product portfolio and discontinued some dairy SKUs to focus on its nutrition offerings.

One Health’ frame of action, which considers the health of people and the planet as intimately interconnected, Danone aims to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices. To accelerate this food revolution and create superior, sustainable, profitable value for all its stakeholders, Danone has defined nine 2030 Goals and paved the way as the first listed company to adopt the French “Entreprise à Mission” status, inspired by the public benefit corporation status in the US.