The report details environmental initiatives underway in the dairy industry and provides new data on energy, water, packaging, and waste associated with dairy and milk processors.

It is being published in advance of the Copenhagen climate change meeting during which ministers are expected to discuss the contribution of agriculture to greenhouse gas emissions.

“We want to be sure they recognise the progress made by agriculture and by dairy in particular towards improving its environmental performance,” said Dairy UK director general Jim Begg.

“Through this report, we aim to demonstrate how hard the UK dairy industry is working to address its impact, which continues to fall.”