Coop Switzerland has announced a new milk initiative that aims to ensure better animal welfare and a more sustainable approach to producing milk.
The new initiative will first target the milk produced in the German-speaking part of Switzerland before spreading to other parts of the country.
Coop says that it aims to improve quality standards for the production of milk, as well as providing an incentive for the Swiss milk industry to produce a more sustainable product. The retailer said that it will guarantee a price that's at least €0.04 higher per kilogram for a litre of milk for farmers who agree to follow the new set of standards.
Dairy Strategy
Based upon pre-existing national programmes, the new Coop milk programme will focus on two important aspects: firstly, cows have to spend at least 26 days in pasture in the summer, as well as having guaranteed access to the outdoors all year long; and, secondly, the animals must be fed with grass, natural hay or silage, and have minimal space to move inside the barn.
These factors will go towards promoting a more sustainable way of farming, with the aim of reducing the use of concentrated feed, Coop Switzerland said.
After rolling out the initiative to the German-speaking part of Switzerland, the firm hopes to introduce it to Romandy, the French-speaking part of the country, and eventually all of Switzerland, so that 100% of the milk sold in the country is up to the new standard.
Beyond milk, Coop also indicated that it has plans to expand the new plan to butter and cream.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Matthieu Chassain. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
