Epi Ingredients looks to sustainability through ‘Passion du Lait’

French company Epi Ingredients has launched a corporate initiative it is calling ‘Passion du Lait,’ or Passion for Milk.

Epi Ingredients, which specializes in developing and marketing dry dairy ingredients for the food and nutrition industry, is a subsidiary of the French dairy cooperative Laïta.

Mathieu Lucot, marketing manager of Epi Ingredients, said that ‘Passion du Lait’ is a step toward a more unified approach to form the basis of the group’s sustainable and corporate responsibility development, which will also set concrete targets for the next few years.

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The move comes after Laïta signed a charter for unified values across the French dairy sector supported by the French National Federation of Dairy Farmers (FNPL) earlier this year.

Uniting network of companies

Laïta says the initiative is aimed to unite its network of companies around ‘shared values of progress, transparency and product excellence to better serve today’s and tomorrow’s customers and consumers.’

Epi Ingredients, which processes 1.5bn liters of milk from more than 2,500 milk producers annually, says consumers are increasingly more demanding.

The company says that ‘Passion du Lait’ is a useful tool as it sets the framework for streamlined operations, efficient supply chain and sustainable milk supply.

The dry ingredients division operates four industrial facilities, all located in Western France and with no farm more than 100km away from the plant that processes their milk.

“As a major food producer, we also have a responsibility to contribute to enhance people’s lives with natural and nutritious value-added products and Epi Ingredients is committed to providing sustainable solutions to global health-related challenges,” Lucot said.

The company has four major focus areas with specific goals:

- Quality & Safety (e.g. ensure 100% Western France origin and enhanced fatty acid profile of the milk collected)

- Land & Individuals Development (e.g. substantial investments in regional activities and individual training)

- Environmental sustainability (e.g. reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020)

- Animal Welfare (e.g. progressively enhance animal wellbeing by sharing and implementing new techniques (massaging brushes, music, etc.))