In just one year, Arla Foods UK’s water consumption has fallen by 21.6 per cent and waste water by 17.7 per cent.

The dramatic fall  is in part owing to the fact that in 2007, all dairies received the ”Energy Desktop” programme which enables them to monitor waste and consumption. In this year alone, savings from energy-reducing initiatives at Oakthorpe dairy have amounted to £107,000.

Arla Foods’ ambition is to minimise emissions and continually improve its environmental efforts throughout the producton chain in order to contribute to organically siustainable development.

Project Manager Bill  Dickson points to lighting and chilling as two of the key focus areas:

“We have reduced the head pressure on the compressors in our chilling room from 13 to 9.5 bar, saving £50,000 per annum with virtually no capital investment. Other than the input from Oakthorpe Team the only cost was a day rate of £750 to the consulting company,” explains Bill Dickson, who believes that many other dairies could use the same means to reduce energy consumption. 

Movement sensors
Oakthorpe dairy  is also adopting the latest lighting technology by installing new movement sensors and energy consuming fluorescent lights have been replaced by bulbs that give out better light at less power.