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Raising the Bar on Dairy Sustainability: Kerry Dairy Ireland’s journey to stage 5 SDP 

2nd December 2025

A benchmark in global dairy sustainability

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Industry alignment is a critical driver of innovation, development and lasting change. SAI Platform’s Sustainable Dairy Partnership (SDP) provides a robust reporting framework for dairy sustainability, while also building trust across the supply chain stakeholders, streamlining the sharing of key data and eliminating the inefficiencies of repeated audits. As a result, a growing number of dairy processors, buyers and traders are adopting the SDP as their business-to-business reporting framework. One such company is SAI Platform member Kerry Dairy Ireland. 

Kerry Dairy Ireland, a leading Irish dairy processor, sources milk from over 2,700 family-run farms where cows graze outdoors for a minimum of 240 days annually. With 95% of the herd’s diet derived from grass, this pasture-based system supports animal welfare and ensures premium quality milk. All milk is certified under Bord Bia’s Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme and Grass Fed Standard, guaranteeing traceability and sustainability. In 2022, Kerry Dairy Ireland were first in Ireland to launch their on-farm sustainability programme Evolve RegenDairy, which has been designed to ease the implementation of scienced-based sustainable action on milk supplier farms through incentivising actions and supporting execution across 5 pillars including: water quality, soil health, biodiversity, animal welfare, and farmer livelihood.

A recently published case study explored how Kerry Dairy Ireland achieved Stage 5, the highest level of SDP reporting. This case study brings to life the process, the challenges, and the milestones that shaped Kerry Dairy Ireland’s journey toward supporting global sustainability efforts. 

Like many dairy processors, prior to adopting the SDP, Kerry Dairy Ireland faced audit duplication, fragmented frameworks, and trust gaps. To overcome these, the company integrated the SDP reporting criteria with Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme and Evolve RegenDairy, their on-farm sustainability programme. This created a holistic single report and verification that supports a lot of the reporting requirements of their customers and represents a feeling of immediate trust in the positive action Kerry Dairy Ireland are taking across their entire value-chain.

The SDP framework demonstrates its value through streamlined reporting, reduced audit fatigue, and independently verified data for buyers. Achieving Stage 5 verification validates measurable progress in emissions reduction, biodiversity, and farm efficiency, while enhancing transparency and trust across the supply chain. 

For Kerry Dairy Ireland, the SDP represents a strategic pillar of its long-term sustainability vision. By aligning global standards with local programmes, the company is driving continuous improvement, supporting rural communities, and advancing its climate goals.