Upgrading dairy processing lines can cut emissions by 49%, reduce water use, and lower product loss with scalable solutions.
Dairy processing modernisation is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving resource efficiency. A new Tetra Pak study, reviewed by the Carbon Trust, shows that upgrading existing dairy processing lines can cut emissions by up to 49%, reduce water use by 45%, and lower product loss by 57%. These improvements use market-ready solutions, offering scalable benefits for dairy producers worldwide.
Modernising dairy processing
A groundbreaking study by Tetra Pak, reviewed by the Carbon Trust, highlights the transformative potential of modernising dairy processing lines. By upgrading existing systems, dairy producers can achieve significant environmental and operational benefits without the need for full line replacements.
Key findings from the study
The study revealed the following average improvements:
- Greenhouse gas emissions: Reduced by 40–49%.
- Water use: Decreased by 45%.
- Product loss: Lowered by 57%.
Globally, these upgrades could save up to 12.7 MtCO2e annually, equivalent to removing 3 million cars from the road.
Solutions driving change
Tetra Pak’s study focuses on market-available solutions, including:
- Electrically powered heat pumps: For energy-efficient heating.
- OneStep technology: An integrated UHT and yoghurt processing system.
- Membrane filtration: For water and product recovery.
- Cleaning-in-place (CIP) recovery: To optimise cleaning processes and reduce waste.
These technologies enable dairy producers to modernise operations while cutting costs and improving sustainability.
The study shows that modernising existing equipment delivers substantial efficiency gains, with average reductions of 47% in greenhouse gas emissions, 45% in water use, and 57% in product losses .5 If these modernisations were implemented across global dairy production, this could lead to potential global carbon savings of up to 12.7 MtCO₂e or taking three million cars off the road.6 Implementing water saving and recovery solutions, such as advanced filtration and cleaning in place (CIP) systems, could reduce water use in dairy production lines by up to 455 million m³ a year globally.
