Enabling a more sustainable dairy industry

DeLaval provides products and solutions that improve working conditions for farmers and ensure that animals are well taken care of, while reducing farm environmental impact and ensuring long-term profitability.

DeLaval Sustainability symbol

In 2023, we updated our three-leaf clover based on the double materiality assessment we conducted during the year. It places innovations in the centre, surrounded by our three pillars and governance

Environment

We are committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring water is used responsibly, and decreasing energy use and waste. We have a long history of developing products and solutions that reduce the environmental impact of every litre of milk produced and improve efficiency and milk yield on farms.

Animal welfare

We focus on animal welfare and cow longevity by promoting and enabling best management practices. A healthy animal provides more milk, at better quality and for more years. Our approach enables us to meet all regulations regarding milk quality to ensure food safety, while developing products and services with cow health and welfare in focus.

Social & Economic

We aim to be a diverse and inclusive employer to attract and retain the talent we need to achieve our strategic ambitions. We also promote the engagement and well-being of our employees and the farmer communities in which we operate. Our approach helps both our customers and DeLaval to maintain a profitable business in the long term while supporting our suppliers to act ethically.

DeLaval’s 14 Sustainability Focus Areas

Our 14 focus areas are based on the results from our double materiality assessment.

Innovations

  • R&D, innovation and digital services
  • Value generation and distribution
  • Product safety, quality and compliance;
  • Collaboration and partnership

Environment

  • GHG emissions
  • Energy efficiency
  • Water management

Animal welfare

  • Milk quality
  • Animal welfare

Social and economic

  • Employee safety and well-being
  • Employee engagement, retention and talent acquisition
  • Diversity, equity and inclusion
  • Customer satisfaction

Governance

  • Governance and ethics

Our sustainability goals, targets and progress

We have comprehensive goals and targets for our three sustainability pillars. We made good progress in 2023 on our targets and are implementing prioritised actions in 2024 and beyond. Below are some of our key targets and significant progress made in 2023. For the full story, see our latest Sustainability Report at https://corporate.delaval.com/sustainability/

Key environment targets

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Green house gas emissions

-30%

Reduce emissions in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 compared with 2020. Set target for scope 3 emissions

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Energy efficiency

-35%

Reduce own energy consumption by 2030 compared with 2020

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Energy efficiency

-20%

Reduce waste by 2030 compared with 2020.

Key environment progress in 2023

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Green house gas emissions

All emissions just counted

  • Innovations to focus on scope 3 downstream emissions
  • Preparing for SBTi verification
  • 29.5% of our own energy is renewable
  • Solar panels installed in some factories
  • LCA tool in place to help understand where the most improvements can be made

Energy efficiency

-3.4%

compared with 2022

  • Optimising internal transports (i.e. reduction of forklifts in the cooling factory)
  • Light and ventilation adjustments in several factories

Energy efficiency

-1.1%

compared with 2022. Approx. 13% reduction compared with 2020

  • Introduction of muti-use metal pallets in several factories
  • 60% reduction in grinding belts due to use of different type
  • Implementing return packaging from six suppliers in Dobre Miasto plant

Key social targets

25% -> 30%

25% female employees (and female managers) by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

Reach the benchmark of a ‘high- performing company’ in terms of

Engagement & Well-being

Key social progress in 2023

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24%

24% female employees in 2023.

25.1%

We achieved our target with 25.1% female managers in 2023.

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83%

83% of DeLaval employees feel engaged at work.

3.64%

lost time accident rate has risen slightly

Our continuous work with animal welfare

Healthy animals are productive animals, and we strive to develop products that are good for the herd through our product development and customer advisory services. In 2023, we launched several new products that have been developed to make farmers’ and cows’ lives better. We continuously invest in R&D to improve cows’ well-being when interacting with DeLaval products and we remain committed to making sustainable food production possible.