Horizon, a part of Danone North America, is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality, and then go beyond by removing or preventing additional carbon from entering the atmosphere, becoming carbon positive.
As a step towards Horizon Organic’s carbon positive by 2025 goal, Horizon is providing a look at the brand’s carbon footprint and the next steps that Horizon will take to reduce emissions.
"Time is not on our side when it comes to climate change, and it's the responsibility of businesses to act with urgency and transparency," said Deanna Bratter, head of sustainable development at Danone North America.
"Releasing Horizon Organic's carbon footprint is only the first step in this journey. We're now focusing on partnerships and investing in our family farmers to implement carbon reduction projects to meet our ambitious carbon positive by 2025 goal."
One year ago, Horizon Organic, the largest USDA certified organic dairy brand in the world, announced its goal to become the first national dairy brand to be carbon positive across its full supply chain. When Horizon made this commitment, the brand also stated it would be open and transparent throughout its journey to becoming carbon positive. By releasing its whole milk half gallon carbon footprint, Horizon hopes to help customers better understand dairy's impact on the environment and what is being done to reduce emissions across its supply chain.
The results of the life cycle assessment (LCA) on Horizon's whole milk half gallon confirmed two-thirds of Horizon Organic's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from on-farm activities such as soil management, enteric fermentation, manure management and milking. The remaining one-third of emissions come from off-farm activities such as manufacturing, transportation, final product, packaging, and end-of-life.
As the brand embarks on the next part of its carbon positive journey, Horizon Organic said it is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint from farm to fridge.
On enhancing soil health, Horizon Organic said its farmers are already enrolled in the Danone North America Soil Health Initiative, which represents 28,000 acres or 26.4m gallons of organic milk, and additional farmers will be enrolling soon. The Danone North American Soil Health Initiative works with farmers to institute soil health programs that reduce and store carbon, in partnership with Sustainable Environmental Consultants and their EcoPractices platform.
Currently, all the electricity used at Horizon Organic owned processing-plants is derived from wind power through the purchase of renewable energy certificates or through purchase-power agreements. Horizon has also pledged to accelerate transition to low-carbon and sustainable fuel technologies by supporting the BSR Sustainable Fuel Buyers principles to help lower emissions from processing plants to retailers.
All Horizon Organic half-gallon cartons are currently widely recyclable, and the brand is aiming to make 100% of packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025.
"Horizon Organic pioneered organic dairy 30 years ago and continues to raise the bar by committing to being carbon positive by 2025," said Regan Ebert, president, premium dairy at Danone North America.
Horizon Organic is aiming to certify its Growing Years whole milk half gallon product carbon neutral through the Carbon Trust by the end of 2021.