Vermont Creamery has joined Vanguard Renewables' Farm Powered Strategic Alliance to boost food waste recycling and expand the production of renewable energy.
Founded in 2020 by Vanguard Renewables, Unilever, Starbucks, and Dairy Farmers of America, the initiative has grown to include 14 leaders in the food world.
“We have long sought an opportunity to use anaerobic digesters to convert food waste into renewable energy, and Vanguard Renewables' facility and model is delivering for us,” said Adeline Druart, president of Vermont Creamery, in a statement. “We must tackle food waste and make good on our goal to turn the food waste we create here in Websterville into renewable energy, and thanks to this partnership, and our new membership to the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance, we’re doing just that.”
An anaerobic digestor uses bacteria to break down various waste products, including food waste, which can then be repurposed as fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, building material, or other products.
Since April of this year, Vermont Creamery has diverted over 2,750 tons of inedible food waste from landfills to Vanguard’s anaerobic digester at its farm in Salisbury, Vermont. This equates to a mitigation of almost 1,600 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Vermont Creamery has grown from a two-person start-up to become one of the leaders in the sustainable dairy movement,” said John Hanselman, chief strategy officer at Vanguard Renewables, in a statement. “Working with Adeline and her team to further their commitment to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to support regenerative agriculture on dairy farms in Vermont is proof that Vanguard’s Farm Powered® movement is changing how food manufacturers are thinking about their waste and how they can turn it into something good for our planet.”
Vanguard’s next phase of growth will focus on expanding the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance and commissioning over 150 anaerobic digestors across the country by 2026.
Related: Food, Beverage Brands Join Farm Powered Strategic Alliance; USDA Invests In Produce Prescription Program