Austria’s largest dairy factory is turning a lot of screws when it comes to sustainability. Berglandmilch, together with boss Josef Braunshofer, has not only set its sights on methane emissions from dairy cows, but also on cheese packaging. This must continue to fulfill all functions, but also be easily recyclable.
Cows have been discredited as climate killers because they emit the greenhouse gas methane during the digestive process. “The quantities emitted have decreased significantly in Europe and also in Austria, because there are far fewer cows than a hundred years ago,” says Josef Braunshofer.
However, the director of Berglandmilch, Austria’s largest dairy factory, knows that the methane problem is a burning issue for many people: “Consumers want to consume dairy products with a clear conscience.” The 61-year-old emphasizes: “We are committed to protecting the environment and not being burdened by the way our dairy cows are kept.”
Herbal herb extracts put to the test
The use of natural feed additives in the diet of grass-eating cows is currently being tested together with farmers: “We use herbal extracts, such as coriander or cloves, which reduce methane emissions.”
Intensive work is also being done on the outfit of the products. “Cheese packaging means a lot of plastic. Humidity must be regulated. There is no glass alternative like there is for drinking milk,” Braunshofer explains. The trend is towards pure materials that are easy to process with a view to recycling.
As thin as possible
“We are also reaching the technical lower limit when it comes to thinness,” says Braunshofer, who speaks of small optimization steps. The first new disc packages are already in circulation. The practical test lasts a year to assess how the new packaging responds to weather influences and the like.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
