Greenhouse gas emission analysis for USA fluid milk processing plants: Processing, packaging, and distribution

A gate-to-gate life cycle assessment was conducted to evaluate the Global Warming Potential associated with USA fluid milk processing. Data collected from 50 fluid milk processing plants were used to construct a life cycle assessment model for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the milk processing system, from raw milk entering the plant’s refrigerated storage silo through delivery of packaged fluid milk to retail store’s loading dock. Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions associated with the processing, packaging, and distribution in the processing of packaged fluid milk were investigated. Upstream emissions associated with raw materials, extraction, and transportation were included. Average GHG emissions for processing, packaging and distribution were 0.077, 0.054 and 0.072 kg CO2e kg−1 packaged fluid milk, respectively. Overall GHG emissions were 0.203 (±0.017) kg CO2e kg−1 packaged fluid milk with major individual GHG contributors being plant electricity usage (27% of total) and truck fleet tailpipe emissions (29% of total).