The carbon footprint study, also referred to as the Greenhouse Gas LCA of Fluid Milk, was completed in July 2010. The study measures the carbon footprint of a gallon of fluid milk, from farm to table and uses 2007 and 2008 data from more than 500 dairy farms and 50 dairy processors, as well as data from more than 210,000 roundtrips transporting milk from farm to processing plant.

The study’s goals, scope, methodology, and findings underwent a third party critical review by leading researchers. The results of the study are expected to be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal in 2011, and will be submitted to the Life Cycle Inventory Library as the first U.S. national-level fluid milk carbon footprint study.

The study follows ISO 14040:2006 and 14044:2006 standards for LCA. Each of the supply chain’s eight stages received a separate analysis, which was then combined into a total life cycle carbon footprint of fluid milk. Those stages include:

•  Animal feed production
• Milk production
• Delivery to processor
• Processing
• Packaging
• Distribution
• Retail
• Consumption and disposal

The research timeline

December 2008: Producer and processor surveys developed and reviewed by dairy scientists and industry stakeholders

June 2008 – August 2009: Data collection

March 2009 – May 2010: Analysis and third party critical review

June 2010 – August 2010: Industry stakeholder, academic, and NGO review

July - August 2010: Abstract submission to academic journals

August – September 2010: Communication and outreach to industry

September 23, 2010: Presentation at International Food LCA Conference, Italy

January 2011 – June 2011: Publication of findings in peer-reviewed academic journal

“As researchers, it is our job to disseminate information in a way that not only academics can understand, but also the dairy industry’s stakeholders including nongovernmental organizations, dairy producers and their organizations, and dairy processors. The key is helping everyone understand the research and its value.”
- Darin Nutter, Associate Professor, University of Arkansas, Department of Mechanical Engineering