Dairy Processor Working Group

Led by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the Dairy Processor Working Group (PWG) brings together industry leaders to engage in the precompetitive work of the Innovation Center and its Dairy Sustainability Alliance®. It provides a forum for processors to collaborate on efforts focused on common issues and opportunities, and empower them to drive progress toward the industry’s 2050 environmental stewardship goals.

Comprised of more than 80 members representing nearly 40 processing companies, the group supports the industry-wide collaboration of the Innovation Center and as such, works with its Environmental Stewardship and Stewardship Commitment Committees to achieve measurable progress toward the industry’s shared goals.

The PWG conducts a variety of activities, including but not limited to:

  • Providing industry and topic updates
  • Sharing knowledge and best practices
  • Producing topic-specific guidance documents and resources
  • Hosting guest speakers to deliver educational presentations
  • Supporting development of industry processor metrics in the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment’s Processor Stewardship Reporting Tool.

PWG Teams

The Processor Working Group convenes and operates through environmental teams, each focused on a material topic that impacts and/or can be influenced by processors and are closely tied to the industry’s shared goals and Innovation Center priorities. 

Specifically, the PWG has three active environmental teams, which focus on the following:

Circularity Team

Focuses on product and ingredient packaging, recyclability, compostability and recycled content, waste stream mitigation, diversion and elimination, and material upcycling.

GHG Team

Focuses on Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emission reductions, GHG accounting, reporting and target setting, regulatory and voluntary GHG standards and climate disclosures, climate risk and resilience.

Water Team

Focuses on operational water use, reuse, and recycling, water quality and wastewater reclamation, treatment and discharge.

PWG Resources

Free Guidance resources produced through the PWG can be accessed at the following links. If your organization is interested in learning more about the PWG and/or joining, please reach out to Eric Hassel (eric.hassel@dairy.org).
Environmental Stewardship

Dairy Processing Water Savings Opportunities

Environmental Stewardship

Aligned U.S. Dairy Circularity Framework

Environmental Stewardship

Dairy Processor Waste Audit Guidance

Environmental Stewardship

Dairy Processor GHG Reduction Opportunities Guidance

Environmental Stewardship

Dairy Processing Water Definitions and Reuse Opportunities