Only three major dairy and coffee companies have set formal methane reduction targets, according to new rankings published by the Changing Markets Foundation, highlighting the slow pace of action on one of agriculture’s most damaging greenhouse gases.
The report assessed 23 dairy and coffee companies across Europe and North America, examining methane disclosure, reduction targets and sustainability strategies. Danone ranked highest overall, followed by General Mills and Starbucks.
Methane is considered a major contributor to climate change, with agriculture responsible for around 42% of human-caused methane emissions.
The gas is significantly more potent than carbon dioxide over the short term, meaning rapid reductions could play a major role in limiting global warming and reducing emissions from food production.
The findings showed growing awareness across the sector, with eight companies now disclosing methane emissions separately and five publishing methane action plans.
However, only Danone, General Mills and FrieslandCampina have published methane reduction targets linked to 2030 goals.
Danone came closest to aligning with the Global Methane Pledge, reporting a 29.8% reduction in methane emissions from fresh milk used in dairy products.
Le Groupe Bel and Nestlé also reported reductions, although disclosure across the wider industry remains inconsistent.
Nusa Urbancic, CEO at Changing Markets Foundation, said: “Our rankings show that setting a science-based methane target is one of the most important levers to drive emissions reductions. Methane is a crucially important climate emergency brake, and we need other food companies to ramp up ambition.”
The report also highlighted increasing regulatory pressure through new EU sustainability reporting requirements, which are expected to push companies towards greater transparency on methane emissions and climate impacts across supply chains.
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