Group Bel at glance Our history A responsible and profitable model International presence Our activities
Our brands and products Pleasure, quality and sustainability Discover Bel’s brands
Expertises Know how Industrial performance Innovation at Bel
Our commitments Contributing to healthier and more responsible food for all Increasing the accessibility of our products Promoting Regenerative Agriculture Designing sustainable portions Fighting climate change Our Group Policies
Bel’s Foundation
Careers Our social model at a glance The Bel experience Bel jobs Student section Join us
Finance Financial calendar and Articles of association Shareholders Corporate gouvernance Regulatory information General meetings
Newsroom News Publications
Menu
Menu
Group Bel at glance Our history A responsible and profitable model International presence Our activities
Our brands and products Pleasure, quality and sustainability Discover Bel’s brands
Expertises Know how Industrial performance Innovation at Bel
Our commitments Contributing to healthier and more responsible food for all Increasing the accessibility of our products Promoting Regenerative Agriculture Designing sustainable portions Fighting climate change Our Group Policies
Bel’s Foundation
Careers Our social model at a glance The Bel experience Bel jobs Student section Join us
Finance Financial calendar and Articles of association Shareholders Corporate gouvernance Regulatory information General meetings
Newsroom News Publications

The Bel Group and WWF France renew partnership to strengthen their shared actions to foster sustainable dairy farming and to raise consumer awareness

Since 2012, Bel and WWF France have worked hand in hand to reduce dairy farming’s environmental footprint and to support the deployment of responsible farming practices, notably with the release of the Global Sustainable Upstream Dairy Charter in 2018. Today, the Bel Group and WWF France announced a three-year renewal of their partnership to continue implementing concrete solutions that foster sustainable dairy farming and raise consumer awareness.

Continuing to empower the dairy industry go further and transform the supply chain

As part of this third partnership, Bel and WWF France have jointly established new areas of focus to enact the Group’s commitments and meet the major challenges facing the industry. These include:

  • WWF France’s support for deploying the Global Sustainable Upstream Dairy Charter in all 10 of Bel’s dairy supply basins around the world, as well as the “Farming for the Future” program. Jointly signed with WWF France, the Charter will guide through 2025 the evolving practices of the Group and the 2,650 dairy farmers who work with Bel, to jointly develop a sustainable growth model. The Charter sets ambitious numerical targets in six strategic areas, such as pasture grazing and sustainable and localanimal feed. The Charter also calls for the establishment of ”Farming for the Future”, a program designed by a panel of experts, including WWF France. Its aim is to identify existing innovative practices already used by participating farmers that are well suited to local situations and can be shared and deployed elsewhere.
  • Technical support for on-the-ground projects within the Group’s dairy supply basins and, in particular among milk supplying farmers, to encourage virtuous farming practices, such as agroforestry or local animal feed.
  • Joint development of a policy to preserve forests and natural ecosystems, with concrete, numerical targets. Three raw materials will be given priority attention including soy, palm and paper, all of which are known to have a strong impact on deforestation and on which Bel can take direct action through dairy cow feed, vegetable fats, and the paper and cardboard used in packaging.

“Bel and WWF France have collaborated for six years now with the shared goal of comprehending and limiting dairy farming’s environmental impacts and fostering a more responsible industry,” said Arnaud Gauffier, Acting Co-Director of Programs at WWF France. “Building on our collaboration and the concrete actions already taken, we intend to continue and develop this joint initiative.”

Building up consumer awareness, involvement and engagement is the new challenge for Bel and WWF France

The effort begun in 2012 and jointly led by Bel and WWF France to encourage more responsible dairy farming will now be incorporated into the packaging and advertising of the Group’s Leerdammer® and Kiri® brands. The aim is to spread the word about the actions and to raise awareness among consumers, who can then elect to support sustainable practices.

“We have been taking concrete steps toward a sustainable dairy industry for several years now,” said Sylvie Borias, CSR and Corporate Communication Director for the Bel Group. “Today, when consumer demand for responsible brands is gathering steam, we have decided to display our responsible company commitments on our products. By choosing our brands, consumers support the shared efforts of Bel and WWF France to help protect the environment and become agents of change.”

About WWF France

The WWF is one of the very first independent environmental-protection organizations in the world. With an active network in more than 100 countries and the support of 6 million members worldwide, the WWF works to halt the destruction of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future where people live in harmony with nature by protecting global biological diversity, ensuring sustainable use of renewable natural resources and encouraging the reduction of pollution and waste.

Since 1973, WWF France has worked every day to ensure that future generations enjoy a living planet. With the support of its volunteers and its 220,000 donors, WWF France organizes concrete actions to save natural ecosystems and their species, ensure the promotion of sustainable lifestyles, train decision-makers, help businesses reduce their environmental footprint and educate the young. But for change to be accepted, it must take place in a manner that respects each individual. That is why the philosophy of the WWF is based on dialogue and action.

For more information see www.wwf.fr