Our commitment to sustainability
For Arborea, sustainability is an original vocation.
Since the cooperative’s inception, every stage of production has been designed to reduce environmental impact, enhance people’s work, and restore value to the local area.
This approach has made it possible to reconcile economic growth and collective well-being , guaranteeing farmers fair and lasting remuneration, and building an agricultural model that puts Sardinia, its land, and its community at its center.
Sebastiano Curreli, Head of Environmental Sustainability, talks to us about sustainability and innovation: two key themes for revitalizing the supply chain and reducing environmental impact.
Every number counts
Download our Sustainability Report here
Growing with the territory: the transformation into a Benefit Corporation
In 2021 , Arborea chose to become a Benefit Corporation , strengthening its commitment to generating not only economic, but also social and environmental value.
A decision consistent with its cooperative identity, which places the well-being of people, the territory, and future generations at its core.
Today, Arborea is Sardinia’s main dairy hub and the island’s leading agri-food district, with a supply chain that involves over 3,000 people along the entire supply chain, from farms to factories, all the way to distribution.
The milk supplied by the members is certified animal welfare
R-PET plastic for fresh milk bottles
Yogurt pots from PS to PP with lower environmental impact
of food waste related to returns
The milk supplied is LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) certified
square meters of photovoltaic park installed at the Arborea site
company fleet modernized and greener than in 2021
of CO2e avoided thanks to the use of the pallet pooling service for logistics
Commitment to the environment
Concrete actions for a brighter future
For Arborea, sustainability is made up of daily gestures and measurable choices.
In recent years, the cooperative has launched numerous initiatives to reduce the supply chain’s environmental footprint and contribute to the transition to more responsible agriculture.
Among the actions already activated:
- installation of 5,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels at the Arborea plant and similar systems at partner companies;
- use of low environmental impact packaging and recycled R-PET plastic bottles for fresh milk;
- modernization of the company fleet for more efficient and sustainable logistics;
- adoption of pallet pooling , to reduce the use of wood and CO₂ emissions related to transport.
An internationally recognized commitment
In 2023 , Arborea joined the United Nations Global Compact , the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.
This is an important step that strengthens the cooperative’s path towards an ethical, inclusive, and sustainable development model, in line with the 10 principles of the Global Compact regarding human rights, labor, the environment, and the fight against corruption.
Mauro Panetto, Arborea Dairy Consultant and Cooperative Member, tells us what innovation means to Arborea and how it allows them to better manage production, increasing efficiency and sustainability.
Animal welfare and farmer welfare
At the heart of our model is a simple principle: healthy animals, better farmers, higher-quality milk.
For this reason, Arborea has made animal welfare a strategic pillar of its sustainability.
All the cooperative’s farms have been assessed according to the criteria of the ClassyFarm risk-based farm categorization information system , and today 100% of our milk comes from certified farms.
But our commitment also looks ahead.
We actively support generational transition on farms, offering training, technical support, and practical tools to new generations of farmers.
A way to cultivate skills, passion, and continuity.
FAQs
What does it mean to be a Benefit Corporation?
For us, being a Benefit Corporation means going beyond profit. It’s a daily commitment to the common good, rooted in our cooperative identity. Since 2021, Arborea has integrated social and environmental objectives into its mission, reporting annually—with transparency and accountability—the tangible impacts of our actions on the local area, people, and the environment.
How does Arborea reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
We do this starting in the stables, with concrete choices throughout the entire supply chain. Livestock feed is designed to be balanced and includes natural additives that reduce methane and ammonia production. More and more of the cooperative’s farms are choosing to convert their biotechnical waste into biogas. Furthermore, we genetically select the most productive animals and invest in their well-being, because sustainable livestock farming begins with small, daily actions.
How does Arborea manage its environmental impact on the territory?
With constant monitoring and a cooperative spirit. Since 2020, we have established the Environmental Sustainability Area, which analyzes livestock effluent from farms in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. The data collected allows us to guide farms in managing their Agronomic Use Plans, reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and promoting organic fertilization. This is how we protect natural resources, with shared actions and informed choices.
What does “creating shared value” mean for Arborea?
It means engaging in true cooperation, every day. For us, creating value means supporting farmers’ families, supporting new generations in training and generational change, promoting animal welfare, and giving back more than we take. Every project, every initiative is born to generate lasting benefits, for Sardinia and beyond its borders.
Why is choosing Arborea milk good for the future?
Because behind every drop of Arborea milk is an entire community working with passion, respect, and responsibility. Each of our products is made in Sardinia, in a short, controlled supply chain powered by clean energy. Choosing Arborea means supporting an agricultural model that puts people, animals, and the environment at its core. It’s a simple gesture, but one that holds great value: doing good, every day, even with your shopping.
Cooperation is our strength. This is why we promote and support concrete projects that generate lasting value for the local area.
Milk supply chain
Our milk supply chain is different.
The quality of our milk is the result of all the passion and dedication we put into every stage of the production process, to ensure the highest quality and safety.
