Clover Sonoma and Starbucks Join Global Alliance to Tackle Methane Emissions from Dairy

Demonstrating growing momentum to tackle potent methane emissions from the food and agriculture sector, two additional companies are joining the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, the major global initiative convened by Environmental Defense Fund to drive down methane emissions from dairy.

The two newest members of the Alliance include Clover Sonoma, a regional dairy brand in California, and global restaurant brand Starbucks. Launched in December at COP28, these new members bring the Alliance to a total of eight global food and dairy companies, representing over $230 billion in annual global sales.

Clover Sonoma and Starbucks join the founding members of the Alliance: the Bel Group, Danone, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Lactalis USA and Nestlé.

By joining this groundbreaking initiative, these companies commit by the end of 2024 to annually and publicly disclose methane emissions within their dairy supply chains, and they are each pledging to create and publish a methane action plan, also by the end of the year. Starbucks’ action plan will specifically apply to methane in regions where Starbucks directly purchases milk for its stores.

A potent greenhouse gas, methane has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the first twenty years after it enters the atmosphere. Agriculture is responsible for nearly 40% of human-caused methane emissions, the majority of which comes from livestock. Critically, the agricultural industry also keeps the world fed and supports livelihoods and rural economies, and is already on the frontlines of climate impacts that make it harder to produce food. Food and dairy companies have an important opportunity to pursue ambitious climate action for a triple win, benefiting farmers' livelihoods, global food security and the climate.

“We’re pleased to welcome Clover Sonoma and Starbucks to the Dairy Methane Action Alliance. With these additions, the Alliance now comprises an even wider array of dairy sector players – from regional producers, to processors, to restaurants –  and demonstrates that the sector is gaining momentum on methane action,” said Katie Anderson, senior director, Business Food & Forests, Environmental Defense Fund. “Dairy is responsible for nearly 10% of global human-caused methane emissions, which uniquely positions companies that source dairy and the farmers in their supply chains to make a profound impact toward global climate targets. Collective action on methane today will avoid the worst impacts of climate change — and we’ll see the difference in our lifetimes. All players in the global dairy supply chain have a leading role to play in tackline methane, and we call on others to join us.”

"As a regional dairy brand committed to our local community and network of family farm partners, Clover Sonoma strives to maximize positive outcomes for the planet, people and animals. Since well before it was a buzzword, our farmers have been implementing regenerative farming and innovations to foster long-term sustainability and resiliency," said Michael Benedetti, Senior Director of Sustainability, Regulatory and Quality at Clover Sonoma. "Joining the Dairy Methane Action Alliance is an important next step in our ongoing work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We look forward to sharing our learnings, such as our successful past work on methane mitigation, while learning from others in the industry as we work toward this critical common goal."

Environmental Defense Fund is taking the lead in convening the Dairy Methane Action Alliance and is offering companies technical support and best practices for accounting and disclosure and access to cutting-edge research and emerging solutions.

The sustainability nonprofit Ceres will provide technical guidance support and lead the development of a methane action plan template that aligns with investor and corporate expectations, as well as helping to ensure companies make progress against key plan milestones.

"Ceres supports food companies to develop effective climate transition action plans and holds them accountable for their actions,” said Meryl Richards, program director, Food and Forests at Ceres. "Near-term action on methane is one of the most effective ways that food companies can reduce the systemic risk of climate change, so we are pleased to see companies like Clover Sonoma and Starbucks partner with the Dairy Methane Action Alliance and commit to incorporate methane action into their strategies to transition toward a more sustainable food system and low carbon economy.”

The Dairy Methane Action Alliance promises not only to expedite climate action in the dairy industry but also sets an example for the private sector as a whole by providing a novel model for transparency and collaboration to reduce critical emissions within a global industry.

For more information about the Dairy Methane Action Alliance and how to get involved, visit business.edf.org/dairy-methane-action-alliance.