Bel Group commits to World Wildlife Fund dairy sustainability charter

French cheese producer Bel Group has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), supporting the adoption of a new charter that targets higher standards of sustainable dairy farming.

The WWF’s Global Sustainable Upstream Dairy Charter holds Bel’s brands to certain standards pertaining to the economic, social and environmental impacts of the dairy production process.

Bel chair and CEO Antoine Fiévet said: “Bel’s responsibility is not limited to the scope of our activities. It extends across our entire value chain from the farm to the table. The global charter solidifies the partnerships that we have sought to develop with the dairy producers in our various supply basins. It will form the foundation of our shared endeavour to meet the challenges of the dairy industry and the changing expectations of consumers.”

There are six main areas established in the charter that Bel will use to develop its business practices. The aim of the charter is to distribute more sustainable farming models, giving access to training, loans and long-term contracts for all dairy farmers that supply milk to Bel.

The cheesemaker also prioritises animal welfare, ensuring that all suppliers are certified by an independent accreditor, adhering to the Bel Animal Welfare Charter. It aims to ensure that its entire milk supply is obtained from pasture-grazed cows where possible, and has committed to using non-GMO animal feed ingredients. Bel now imports its soy and palm kernel expellers (PKEs) from sustainable, traceable and certified supply chain systems.

WWF France deputy director for global business relations Marie Christine Korniloff said: “Soy accounts for 60% of the deforestation that results from Europe’s importation of agricultural raw materials. Against this backdrop, the WWF must support more sustainable production models, promote soy alternatives, and encourage access to grazing for dairy cows. These themes are fully in sync with the global charter that we have developed with the Bel Group.”