It’s been clear for a long time that human-kind’s food production network without oversight, can have a negative effect on our environment. But what hasn’t been clear is that there are many industries working to create more sustainable practices relating to production, packaging, storage and distribution for decades. One of these industries is the dairy industry.
The Dairy Industry and Sustainability
Hiland Dairy and Prairie Farms Dairy have been providing milk and dairy products for generations throughout the Central and Southern States. That means innumerable families have grown up with Hiland and Prairie Farms at their dinner table, and in tens of thousands of stores and schools for many, many decades.
So, to people who know the dairy industry in general and Hiland in particular, it’s no surprise that Hiland, along with its parent company Prairie Farms, has long been pursuing improved sustainability practices. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of these efforts.
Getting the Word Out
When Hiland Dairy wanted to communicate its sustainability efforts to its customers and vendor-partners, Envoy was tasked with helping tell the story in a clean, simple and compelling way. And so began the compilation and summary of dozens of massive environmental and sustainability programs, including facts, figures and numbers to help quantify these efforts.
Right from the beginning, it was decided that this brochure needed to “talk the talk” when it came to sustainability. Therefore, the finished piece would be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), ensuring that the paper used to produce the brochure was made using wood from forests that adhere to the most stringent environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable practices (see more here).
Additionally, it was important to communicate to today’s eco-conscious generation of potential customers the depth and breadth of Hiland’s efforts and that the lives and livelihoods of many thousands of farmers and dairy employees, in communities across a multi-state region, are inherently tied to maintaining a healthy environment.
Specific examples of sustainability were cited, including an impressive program to tackle the acidic whey wastewater byproduct of cottage cheese production at a Hiland Dairy plant in Wichita, Kansas. In that case, the initiative not only reduced stress on the city’s wastewater infrastructure, it also lowered costs for the company while producing high-protein feed for dairy cows.
Layout was intentionally clean, airy and image-reliant, with dairy photos being culled from actual working Hiland and Prairie Farms dairy operations. In every case, if an image didn’t feature a person, it featured one or more dairy cows, emphasizing the organic nature of life on a dairy farm.
This story is a powerful one, showing the dedication of the Hiland and Prairie Farms employees over the years to a sustainable future. Check it out by clicking on the thumbnails. And if you’d like to hold one in your hand, drop us an email; I’m sure it can be arranged.
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