Neutral Foods’ Carbon Neutral Organic Milk will roll out to 500 Whole Foods stores, next month. The product was part of the retailer’s top 10 trends for 2022.
Neutral Foods was founded in 2019 in Portland, Oregon with a mission to reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture. Neutral works with dairy farmers to implement a number of strategies to drive down the carbon emissions of its milk, and what can't be reduced is offset through the purchase of carbon credits from US dairy farmers who turn cow emissions into renewable energy.
"Solutions to reduce agricultural GHG emissions and increase sequestration on agricultural lands exist, but they're expensive. We're giving farmers the capital they need to adopt low- or no-emitting solutions," said Ann Radil, head of carbon reduction at Neutral, in a statement. "This year we're investing in family-owned farms in Oregon and Washington, reducing GHG emissions by changing what cows eat and how nutrients are managed. Over their lifetimes, these projects will avoid more than 3,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from entering the atmosphere. Next year we're tripling our investment in family-owned farms across the US, funding tactics that reduce operational emissions or increase long-term carbon storage in vegetation and soils."
Neutral Foods, which is America's first carbon neutral food company, recently raised $4 million in financing, bringing its total funding to more than $4.8 million to date. Breakthrough Energy Ventures led the round with Mark Cuban Companies participating. The capital raised will be used to support national distribution, driving awareness and trial of the brand, and to make direct investments with farmers on projects to reduce carbon emissions.
"Neutral is a game-changer," said Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and judge on ABC's Shark Tank, in a statement. "Neutral works with farmers to deploy on-farm carbon reduction projects focused on compost, manure management and feed changes. It's a unique solution that can feed us while protecting us. It's a program that I'm proud to be part of."
Related: Whole Foods Supports Responsible Sourcing; Hundreds of Brands Become Carbon Neutral Certified.