Sustainable Development Goals

Australian Dairy's commitment to global sustainable development

We proudly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and acknowledge the 2016 Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam, that recognises the SDGs as the dairy industry's overarching framework for sustainable development to 2030.

SDGs guide a global effort to meet sustainability challenges, including climate change, population growth, water scarcity, responsible consumption and rewarding work.

Dairy contributes to several SDGs and they have helped us refine our priorities in the setting of our own 2030 goals and targets.

On this page we outline the four commitment areas of the Australian Dairy Sustainability Framework and those SDGs that are best supported by our goals and progress.

Our Commitments and the UN SDGs

We publicly report our progress and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals across the following four commitment areas.

Commitment 1 - Enhancing economic viability and livelihoods

Australian Dairy is a vibrant industry that rewards dairy workers and families, their related communities, business and investors.

Commitment 1 is focused on industry profitability - both the profitability of Australian dairy farms and the dairy industry overall. It also incorporates the emerging issue of human rights, as defined by the articles of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

This commitment best supports UN SDGs 2, 3 and 8 - Zero hunger, Good health and well-being and Decent work and economic growth.

Commitment 2 - Improving wellbeing of people

The Australian dairy industry provides nutritious, safe, quality dairy food.

Commitment 2 is focused on human health and nutrition, including the safety of Australian dairy products and their contribution to improved health outcomes for Australians.

This commitment best supports UN SDGs 2 and 3 - Zero hunger and Good health and well-being.

Commitment 3 - Providing best care for all our animals

Striving for health, welfare and best care for all our animals throughout their lives.

Commitment 3 is focused on animal health and welfare and includes all aspects of animal welfare on Australian dairy farms and the adherence to accepted standards. It also incorporates the emerging issue of antimicrobial resistance- with a focus on removing any critically important antibiotics for human health as treatments to protect the health and welfare of dairy herds, unless no other treatments are available.

This commitment best supports UN SDGs 2 and 3 - Zero hunger and Good health and well-being.

Commitment 4 - Reducing environmental impact

Meeting the challenge of climate change and providing good stewardship of our natural resources.

Commitment 4 is focused on climate change including water scarcity. Our targets address reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As well as responding to climate change through adaptation. It also incorporates the emerging issue of food loss and food waste.

This commitment best supports UN SDGs:

2 - Zero hunger
6 - Clean water and sanitation
7 - Affordable and clean energy
8 - Decent work and economic growth
9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure
12 - Responsible consumption and production
13 - Climate action, and
15 - Life on land

We’re proud to be playing our part in advancing the SDGs and in our most recent report, we show how our efforts align with the global goals.

Our four commitments