Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Lobbying Overview: Groupe Lactalis appeared to have limited engagement with climate policy in 2022-24, however, it did not seem to support the transition of consumer diets to lower GHG intensive products. The company retains links to industry associations that engage negatively with land use-related climate policy such as the European Dairy Association (EDA).
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Groupe Lactalis supported climate policy in its top-line messaging in 2022-24. The company stated support for emissions reductions in line with the IPCC 1.5°C target in a position paper published in February 2022. Groupe Lactalis appeared to acknowledge the link between climate change and the land use sector in its 2022 Activity Report published in June 2023. The company appeared to support reducing emissions in the food and beverage sector in its 2022 Sustainability Report, published in June 2023, but was unclear whether this aligned with IPCC timeframes. In its 2022 Activity Report, published in June 2023, the company took no clear position on the need for government regulation on climate change. InfluenceMap did not detect a public position on the UN Paris Agreement in 2022-24.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Groupe Lactalis appeared to have limited engagement with climate related regulations in 2022-24. However, in its 2023 CDP disclosure, the company appeared to support mechanisms to reduce GHG emissions from Freon, and increase energy efficiency in France.
Engagement with Land Use-Related Regulations: Groupe Lactalis appeared to engage with broadly negative positions on policy related to land use in 2022-24. In its 2022 Sustainability Report, published in June 2023, the company appeared unsupportive of the transition of consumer diets away from GHG intensive dairy products. Groupe Lactalis stated support for balanced and sustainable diets in its 2023 CDP Climate Change Disclosure but emphasized the importance of food security, affordability and food culture.
Groupe Lactalis appeared to support reducing deforestation in its Lactalis Group Forest Policy, published in September 2023, but took no clear position on the need for government intervention. The company appeared to support the EU Sustainable Carbon Cycles initiative and government intervention to protect carbon sinks, while appearing to support restricting carbon credits to the value chain of origin in its 2023 CDP Disclosure.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Groupe Lactalis did not take clear positions of support on the energy transition. The company communicated broad support for the transition to a low carbon economy but did not clarify which fuels and technologies it defines as ‘low carbon’ in a position paper published in February 2022. The company appeared to support scaling up biomass wood boilers in its 2023 CDP Disclosure, but it was unclear whether this support is aligned with IPCC recommendations and timeframes and with no position stated on phasing out fossil fuels.
Industry Association Governance: Groupe Lactalis disclosed a list of its industry association memberships in its 2022 Sustainability Report published in June 2023, but excluded its membership to the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and did not state its associations positions or engagement activities related to climate policy. A senior executive of Groupe Lactalis is a member of the board of the European Dairy Association, which engages negatively with climate policy in Europe. The company has not published a review of its alignment with its industry associations.