On January 1, 2020, Beemster reached a new milestone - Beemster is the first Dutch dairy to be certified climate neutral. For many years Beemster has been carbon neutral and has always committed to sustainability initiatives.
Through ongoing innovation in sustainability and a rigorous evaluation, Beemster earned official climate neutral certification from the Climate Neutral Group.
To achieve top performance, you have to excel in all areas. For more than 100 years, Beemster has been working in this way, with this vision. We've developed expertise to employ the most modern and energy efficient techniques, while staying true to our traditions and heritage.
- Wim Betten, CEO CONO Kaasmakers
Sustainability also means honoring our heritage. When we protect the planet, we ensure opportunity for our future. Our farmer-owned cooperative was founded in 1901 to protect the land and establish the quality and standards that continue to define Beemster.
ENERGY EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY
Our cheese dairy was constructed with sustainable materials and environmentally friendly building techniques. We invested in energy-efficient technology, including a system to cool the building with ice-water and centrifuges to skim fresh milk. Betten explains, “The milk that comes here directly from the farms must first be skimmed. Centrifuges work under vacuum pressure, which means that we need much less energy to operate them.”
RECYCLING ENERGY
One of the challenges of cheesemaking is the amount of water and energy required. Through a commitment to innovation, Beemster has taken major steps in recycling these resources. For example, heat is used to process the cold milk. The resulting whey is warm and must be cooled down again. “We allow these two products to flow past each other in tubes through a plate changer. That is how the milk heats up and the whey cools down," says Betten. The water in this process is then recycled and used to clean the dairy.
GREEN ENERGY FROM OUR OWN FARMERS
A growing number of Beemster farmers generate their own green electricity through solar panels and wind turbines. We purchase this sustainably generated electricity and thereby stimulate the energy transition within our sector. Our goal is to eventually generate sufficient renewable, green energy for the entire process through all members of our dairy cooperative.
CO2 COMPENSATION
We're proud that Beemster is the greenest dairy in the world. Our 360° approach to sustainability ensures we are optimized for energy efficiency and carbon neutrality – from our office operations through production. This is a world-class achievement, especially for a company that processes more than one million gallons of milk annually. To neutralize the remaining CO2 emissions, Beemster partners with Climate Neutral Group in a CO2 compensation program. For example, one project is forest conservation in Brazil. This project creates jobs, improves the environment and reduces CO2 emissions.
THE BEST FOR THE ANIMALS AND THE LAND
Our herds graze on lush, pesticide-free pastures, with ample fresh water and space to roam. In the winter, they have roomy stables and plenty of fresh air and light. They even get massaged with special cow brushes and have special water beds! Research has shown that properly managed free-grazing, grass-fed dairy farming is not only an ethical way to raise animals, but also has a lower impact on the environment. Sustainable dairy operations mean fewer chemical fertilizers and pesticides, less water pollution, and healthier, richer soil.
OUR BEE CORRIDOR FOSTERS BIODIVERSITY
In 2019, the Beemster Bijenlint – or Bee Corridor – was planted from the Beemster Dairy through six member farms. The Corridor is a beautiful stretch of wildflowers and native plants that boosts the number of pollinating insects in the region and fosters biodiversity. Bees and other pollinators face threats from climate change, pesticides, and habitat loss. The Beemster Bijenlint will continue to grow with more member farmers adding to the Corridor each year creating a source for food and place for nesting.
SUSTAINABILITY IS IN OUR DNA
For us, sustainability is not just about environmentally friendly materials and energy-efficient systems—and it's definitely more than a buzzword. We are deeply invested in creating and nurturing a system that enriches the environment and leaves a path for future generations of Beemster families. We remain faithful to traditions and the slow methods that produce our exceptional cheese. So as we grow, modernize and innovate, we stay true to what matters to us: building a delicious and sustainable future.
