Nestle has withdrawn from a global initiative designed to reduce methane emissions in the dairy sector. This marks another setback for corporate climate alliances as governments and companies reassess their environmental commitments.
The Swiss food giant announced on Wednesday that it had ended its membership in the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, which launched in December 2023 to promote greater transparency and accountability in the dairy industry. The group’s members, including Danone, Kraft Heinz, and Starbucks, had pledged to measure and publicly report methane emissions from their supply chains and outline long-term reduction plans.
Nestle did not explain the reasons for its departure but stressed that it remained committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, across its global operations. The company reaffirmed its target of reaching net zero by 2050.
Corporate Climate Alliances Under Pressure
The decision adds to a growing trend of corporations distancing themselves from climate-focused coalitions. It follows the withdrawal of several major banks from carbon-cutting groups, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s rollback of environmental initiatives.
«Nestle regularly reviews its memberships of external organisations,» the company said. «As part of this process, we have decided to discontinue our membership of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance.»
According to Nestle’s 2024 non-financial statement, the firm has already cut methane emissions by nearly 21% compared with 2018 levels.
Methane’s Climate Impact
Methane is nearly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, making it a key target in efforts to slow global warming. Agriculture contributes roughly 40% of human-caused methane emissions, with livestock accounting for most of that share, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) reports.
Following Nestle’s withdrawal, the company’s logo has been removed from the EDF’s alliance homepage, though its name still appears elsewhere on the site. The EDF has not yet commented on the development.
Kursiv also reports that Nestle has dismissed its chief executive officer, Laurent Freixe, after an internal probe found he had an undisclosed romantic relationship with a subordinate.
