At AE Dairy, we’re constantly finding innovative ways to improve sustainability. Bettering the people and planet is a core part of what makes us a different kind of dairy.
For nearly 100 years, everyone at AE Dairy has believed that goodness takes time. Like the yearly planting of our 40,000 tulip bulbs, stewardship takes effort and a desire to see long-term plans through. We reinvest our time and resources to do what’s right for our products, our communities and the world we live in. A large part of that is ensuring our business practices are sustainable.
Because we’re local, we’ve retained a close connection to the land and those who care for it. We’re proud of working with countless Iowans to continue sustainable practices like recycling and harnessing renewable energy. Even the farms we work with strive to improve sustainability, as they convert excess methane into fuel instead of letting it go to waste. The less impact we have on the world around us, the greater impact we have on friends and families everywhere.
AE Dairy partners with MidAmerican Energy and the Renewable Advantage Program to support their vision of 100% renewable energy for Iowa and beyond. Not only is this better for the environment, but this partnership allows Iowa to continue to be a national leader in renewable sources like wind energy.
Fuel emissions are a significant contributor to pollution and other sustainability concerns. AE Dairy sources our milk from local family farms not just because we’re proud of Iowa farmers, but because it means less shipping and transportation emissions. Dairy may be shipped halfway across the country before it finally arrives at the grocery store. Not AE products. We even invest in additional truck maintenance to keep our current fleet on the road longer.
But what about our products once they reach stores? Rather than dump responsibility on the customer, we find ways to make our packaging more sustainable. For example, we are in the process of transitioning to a carbon neutral brown board carton for our milk. This material is easy to work with and leaves a smaller impact on the environment.
AE Dairy recycles cardboard, plastic, oil and other materials for maximum efficiency and sustainability. Here are the numbers:
Each week, we recycle enough cardboard to save roughly 1,300 cubic yards of landfill space. This provides energy savings equivalent to power five households.
Yearly, we recycle enough plastic to produce 1 million new gallon jugs and enough wood to create more than 2,500 four-drawer chests.
In 2020, we recapped 146 truck tires to extend their longevity, and we recycled 3,800 gallons of oil, bringing the net effect to zero.
Want to know more about what makes AE a different kind of dairy? Learn more about our history and everything we do to cultivate a culture of goodness.
