Arla’s Lactofree milk is advertised on several major UK retailer websites (e.g., Tesco, Asda) with the vague claim of “planet friendlier packaging.” This statement does not appear on Arla’s UK website, where more detailed (though still limited) sustainability information about packaging is available, including their use of FSC-certified, forest-based materials and renewable plastics. While these cartons incorporate bio-based plastic derived from sugar cane or forest waste, they also have a thin protection layer inside the cardboard to help keep the milk fresh. Arla states it hopes to find a more sustainable alternative ‘soon’. Online adverts promote the use of “naturally sourced, planet friendlier materials,” without providing further substantiation.

Arla’s data indicates packaging accounts for less than 5% of its total carbon footprint, diverts attention from the more significant environmental impacts of dairy production. By promoting an unsubstantiated packaging claim, Arla risks providing consumers with a misleading impression of the product’s overall environmental impact.

September 2025.