Aurora Organic Launches Initiative to Reduce Carbon Footprint

Aurora Organic Dairy has announced a major initiative with the University of Michigan to measure and reduce its carbon footprint across the entire product lifecycle, from cattle feed to cartons in retail dairy cases.

This research will be funded by the newly established Aurora Organic Dairy Foundation. The foundation’s first grant of more than $320,000 will fund a long-term research partnership with the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment. With the proceeds of the grant, the center will conduct lifecycle and sustainability research at Aurora Organic Dairy’s facilities.

Gregory Keoleian, co-director and research team leader at Center for Sustainable Systems, said: “Aurora Organic Dairy is providing the Center for Sustainable Systems with an excellent opportunity to apply our research expertise and address real challenges faced by organic agriculture producers.”

Mark Retzloff, president and chief organic officer of Aurora Organic Dairy, said: “Our goal is to evaluate what we do on our farms and throughout our supply chain, and to develop tools for guiding our company and enhancing our sustainability performance.”