Chicago retailer Marshall Field famously said, “Give the lady what she wants.” A related axiom is “The customer is always right.” Here’s more good business advice: “Don’t insult your customers” and “Play it straight with consumers.”

In 2008, the dairy industry made a voluntary commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% by 2020 – a lofty goal, to say the least. In fact, it is remarkable to think how far we have already come since 1944.

Aurora Organic Dairy has reduced its shuttling of products to and from cold storage by 90% by opening a new energy-efficient plant in Platteville, Colo.

Land O' Lakes Inc. has worked to reduce its environmental footprint through resource conservation, transportation, logistics and manufacturing efficiencies, and renewable energy on the farm, according to the company's 2014 Corporate Responsibility report.

Dairy processors reduce their costs and environmental footprints in a number of ways. Hilmar Cheese received a U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award for its efforts. Land O’Lakes and Aurora Organic have their own approaches.

Family-owned Perry's Ice Cream, Akron, N.Y., disposed of 70% less waste at landfill in 2014 over the previous year, according to the company's corporate sustainability report.

Nutrient trading allows a regulated entity to purchase credits from another source who can achieve nutrient reductions in a more cost-effective manner.

On-site blow molding saves transportation costs because a truckload of resin or preforms can yield more containers than a truckload of finished milk jugs.