Set of sustainability indicators for the dairy industry.

The Brazilian dairy industry is socially and economically relevant but requires care regarding the prevention of the environmental impact, and a set of indicators to evaluate the level of sustainability of such industries has not yet been yet defined and consolidated both in practice and in the literature. In this context, this study aims to select a set of sustainability indicators for small and medium-sized Brazilian dairy industries. The selection of the set of sustainability indicators was conducted using a top-down approach (based on the Global Reporting Initiative document) and a bottom-up approach (participatory process by questionnaire in the dairy industry). The questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale of a general set of indicators, resulting from the top-down approach, was answered by 238 respondents linked to the dairy industry in Brazil to determine the importance of each indicator in this type of industry. The main results reveal that a set of 28 sustainability indicators (environmental = 13, social = 9, and economic = 6) was selected for use in small and medium-sized Brazilian dairy industries. This set of indicators fills the existing gaps in the literature about being specific for the small and medium-sized dairy industries in Brazil, mutually covers the dimensions of the triple bottom-line, applicable in multiple departments of the dairy industry, and the selection took place through a participatory process of professionals linked to the dairy industry.

Sustainability in the dairy industry: a systematic literature review.

The dairy industry can contribute to global food security in a sustainable way by efficiently converting milk into dairy ingredients and products, even though they are polluting on a large scale. In this context, this study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review on sustainable indicators and dairy industries. The methodology used has a qualitative and quantitative approach and its technical procedure was the systematic literature review. The bases of journals consulted, using the keywords "sustainability indicator" and "dairy industry" which resulted in 130 valid scientific articles. The main results show that the sustainability indicators in the dairy industry are emerging and lacking research; being found seven papers, that highlight 12 indicators of the environmental, 11 of the social and eight economic dimensions, that may be considered fragile and initial. The studied problems are related to wastewater treatment methods, electric power consumption, efficiency of the industrial plant, among others, and the benefits on the theme are related to solutions to the difficulties, such as electricity reduction, sustainable practices. Among others, it is concluded that the dairy industries address the sustainability theme since 2011, with an ambiguous trend, being found evidence of the fragility of the sustainability indicators was found, mainly in the initial stage of their conception, when considering holistic approach (triple bottom line).