Tracking Methane Action in the Dairy and Coffee Sector

The report finds a significant gap in methane action within the dairy and coffee sectors, with only three companies setting 2030 reduction targets and 15 failing to disclose emissions for 2024 or 2025. While members of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance (DMAA) generally outperform non-members, performance varies widely, and dairy co-operatives are noted as lagging. Danone is highlighted as a leader, having achieved a 29.8% reduction in methane emissions from fresh milk and dairy products by 2025. The report also notes that major global supermarkets are currently failing to disclose methane emissions or set targets, and warns that upcoming EU regulations like the CSRD and CSDDD will make such disclosures a legal obligation.

• There is a widespread lack of specific methane reduction targets; while 91% of assessed companies acknowledge the link between livestock and climate change, only three have published a target for 2030. Danone is the only company with a target aligned with the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030, while Friesland Campina and General Mills have "slightly weaker targets".
• Methane disclosure is inconsistent across the sector. Eight companies, including Starbucks, General Mills, and Clover Sonoma, report livestock methane emissions, but 15 companies—including McDonalds (McCafe), Lactalis, and Arla—did not disclose methane emissions for the 2024 or 2025 periods.
• Danone has demonstrated significant progress in methane reduction, reporting a 29.8% reduction in emissions from fresh milk and dairy products in 2025 compared to 2020. This reduction was driven primarily by procurement decisions (17.6%) and farm performance management (11.2%), the latter of which includes herd management, manure management, farm portfolio mix, and feed additives.
• Membership in the Dairy Methane Action Alliance (DMAA) correlates with better performance, with members scoring an average of 46 points compared to 23 for non-members. However, implementation varies, with rankings ranging from Danone in 1st place to Agropur in 16th.
• Dairy co-operatives generally underperform compared to DMAA members, with an average score of 24. While FrieslandCampina and Arla show stronger engagement, others such as Dairy Farmers of America (8), DMK (12.5), and Agropur (16) score poorly, suggesting methane is a "major blind spot" for much of the co-operative sector.
• In the coffee sector, Starbucks (a DMAA member) leads in disclosure and action planning, while other coffee companies score under 25 points, with Dunkin' scoring zero.
• Dairy and coffee companies are currently more proactive than global supermarkets regarding methane; the report states that no major global supermarket has disclosed methane emissions, set a target, or published an action plan in 2026.
• New EU regulations, specifically the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), are expected to make methane disclosure a legal obligation and increase financial and legal risks for companies that fail to act.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2026). Tracking Methane Action in the Dairy and Coffee Sector. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-2026-Insights.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Tracking Methane Action in the Dairy and Coffee Sector. 2026. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-2026-Insights.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Tracking Methane Action in the Dairy and Coffee Sector |date=May 2026 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-2026-Insights.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2026tracking, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Tracking Methane Action in the Dairy and Coffee Sector}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-2026-Insights.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }