A call to diary and coffee brands to catch up with methane emissions

You probably don’t think of the splash of milk in your morning coffee as a climate risk—but it is. A new report by the Changing Markets Foundation reveals that the 20 largest dairy producers and coffee brands, representing over $420 billion in combined revenue, are falling short when it comes to cutting methane emissions.

This matters. Methane from dairy production, a key ingredient for many coffee chains, is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, warming the planet up to 80 times faster than CO₂ over a 20-year period. It is also one of the most fixable.

I’m proud to have supported this research, which ranks 20 top dairy and coffee brands on their methane reduction targets, action plans, and transparency. The results? Disappointing. No company scored highly. Still, Danone, General Mills, and Nestlé made it into the top three, while Dunkin’ scored a flat zero.

Some key findings from Changing Markets Foundation’s May report, Running Latte: Slow progress on methane in the dairy and coffee industry:

🔴 18 of 20 companies scored below 50 out of 100
⚠️ Only Danone has a methane target and action plan
🥉 Nestlé and Arla tied for third—without having methane targets
🍩 Dunkin’ scored zero: no target, no plan, no action
☕ Coffee chains filled the bottom ranks

Explore the full rankings in Running Latte here

Just after the publication of the report, several companies made new commitments, disclosures, and plans to drive down methane emissions as a part of their membership in The Dairy Methane Action Alliance, launched by the Environmental Defense Fund at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023.

I look forward to seeing how companies respond to these findings and take meaningful steps toward slashing dairy methane emissions. A climate-safe future demands it.