Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T21:26:09.873Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Assessing the environmental impact of the dairy processing industry in the Republic of Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 August 2018

William Finnegan ,
Jamie Goggins  and
Xinmin Zhan
William Finnegan
Affiliation:
College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Jamie Goggins*
Affiliation:
College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy (MaREI), Galway, Ireland
Xinmin Zhan
Affiliation:
College of Engineering and Informatics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: jamie.goggins@nuigalway.ie
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This Research Communication describes the methodology used and the subsequent results obtained for an assessment of the environmental impact associated with the manufacture of dairy products in the Republic of Ireland. As the Irish dairy industry changes and grows, it is necessary to have a benchmark of the environmental performance of the sector if it is to remain sustainable in the future. In order to estimate the environmental impact, life cycle assessment has been implemented, which has been structured in accordance with the International Organisation for Standardisation guidelines. In this study, the environmental impact categories assessed are terrestrial acidification potential, cumulative energy demand, freshwater eutrophication potential, global warming potential, marine eutrophication potential and water depletion. The main Irish dairy products have been compared across these environmental impact categories in order to derive meaningful results. It is identified that packaging materials, particularly for infant formula, and energy usage, across each of the life cycle stages, should be targeted as these are the most significant contributors to the overall environmental impact.

Keywords

Dairy processingenvironmental impactlife cycle assessment
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 85 , Issue 3 , August 2018 , pp. 396 - 399
Copyright
Copyright © Hannah Dairy Research Foundation 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Djekic, I, Miocinovic, J, Tomasevic, I, Smigic, N & Tomic, N 2014 Environmental life-cycle assessment of various dairy products. Journal of Cleaner Production 68 64–72Google Scholar
FIL-IDF 2015 A common carbon footprint approach for the dairy sector: the IDF guide to standard life cycle assessment methodology. Brussels, Belgium: International Dairy FederationGoogle Scholar
Finnegan, W, Goggins, J, Clifford, E & Zhan, X 2017a Global warming potential associated with dairy products in the Republic of Ireland. Journal of Cleaner Production 163 262–273Google Scholar
Finnegan, W, Goggins, J, Chyzheuskaya, A & Zhan, X 2017b Global warming potential associated with Irish milk powder production. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering 11 12–19Google Scholar
Finnegan, W, Goggins, J, Clifford, E & Zhan, X 2017c Environmental impacts of milk powder and butter manufactured in the Republic of Ireland. Science of the Total Environment 579 159–168Google Scholar
ISO 2006 ISO 14040: Environmental Management – Life Cycle Assessment – Principles and Framework. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for StandardizationGoogle Scholar
Kim, D, Thoma, G, Nutter, D, Milani, F, Ulrich, R & Norris, G 2013 Life cycle assessment of cheese and whey production in the USA. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 18 1019–1035Google Scholar
Nutter, DW, Kim, D, Ulrich, R & Thoma, G 2013 Greenhouse gas emission analysis for USA fluid milk processing plants: processing, packaging, and distribution. International Dairy Journal 31 S57–S64Google Scholar
Vergé, XPC, Maxime, D, Dyer, JA, Desjardins, RL, Arcand, Y & Vanderzaag, A 2013 Carbon footprint of Canadian dairy products: calculations and issues. Journal of Dairy Science 96 6091–6104Google Scholar
Weidema, BP, Bauer, C, Hischier, R, Mutel, C, Nemecek, T, Reinhard, J, Vadenbo, CO & Wernet, G 2013 The ecoinvent database: overview and methodology, data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. Zurich, SwitzerlandGoogle Scholar