German retailer EDEKA is launching the next phase of a new climate protection project in the milk supply chain. Together with four dairy producers – EMP Milchhof Prenzlau GmbH, NordseeMilch eG, Royal A-ware, and Molkerei Gropper GmbH & Co. KG – EDEKA is developing a standardised, transparent, and scalable system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With this, the project partners aim to further shape their ambitious sustainability goals. Leuphana University Lüneburg is providing scientific support for the project.
Together with the four dairy producers, EDEKA is striving to gradually make its own supply chains more sustainable. This is precisely where the project involving EMP, NordseeMilch, Royal A-ware, and Gropper comes into play. The central principle of the collaboration: practical, data-driven, and scalable solutions. Through their commitment, the project partners are taking on a pioneering role in the German market. The participating dairy producers are also in close contact with their dairy farmers, ensuring their perspectives are continually taken into account. The project deliberately focuses not on premium or niche programmes, but on conventional supply chains and thus on the entire dairy sector.
Step by step towards greater comparability and impact
In the current project phase, a standard for data collection and emissions calculations is being developed in line with the requirements of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This should make emissions data more comparable, traceable, and consistent. At the same time, the project brings together existing knowledge and initiatives from dairy producers, and each measure is assessed for its climate impact, economic viability, and feasibility. In addition, training courses, practical tests, and targeted support for dairy farmers are being developed. From 2027 onwards, the focus will increasingly shift to how the measures can be implemented across the entire value chain – particularly those with a particularly high reduction effect, which can be realised on a large scale in the future.
Broad expertise in the project for realistic and transferable results
The dairy producers involved in the project are key partners of EDEKA in the field of private-label products and bring together a wide range of expertise. EMP represents the East German agricultural structure, whilst NordseeMilch represents cooperatively organised, North German farms, and also contributes experience in the field of scientific collaboration. Thanks to existing, proven market concepts, Royal A-ware possesses extensive knowledge of implementing measures to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Gropper, as a representative of the central and southern German agricultural sector, contributes practical experience through the ‘Klimahöfe’ project.
This mix of experience and knowledge reflects a broad spectrum of different production conditions.
Leuphana University provides scientific guidance for the project and is investigating new forms of collaboration for future-proof supply chains. In addition, the consultancy firm Quantis is responsible for independent project management.
With this unique project, EDEKA is working with dairy producers and their dairy farmers to develop a practical, transferable, and scientifically sound climate protection model, which has been lacking on the German market until now. The shared goal: a transparent and scalable industry solution that will also be open to other dairy producers in the future, including their dairy farmers and other organisations.
