How Maeil Dairies builds a more caring and sustainable future

Following Maeil Dairies’ recognition at the SIAL For Change CSR Awards in 2024, Grace Lee from the company’s Strategic Planning Division shares how its guiding belief, “Every life is precious”, shapes its commitment to CSR. Known for its broad range of dairy and nutrition products, Maeil Dairies applies this philosophy in both Korea and global markets.

Your company was selected for the SIAL For Change award. What role does CSR play in Maeil Dairies and is there one area of CSR that receives more attention than others?
Maeil Dairies, a leading South Korean dairy company and the first from Korea to receive the CSR Award at SIAL Paris, sees corporate social responsibility as an extension of its core philosophy: “Every life is precious.” Rather than treating CSR as an obligation, we embrace it as a commitment to community and humanity. Among various efforts, we focus particularly on supporting vulnerable groups. For over 25 years, we’ve been the only company in Korea producing specialised formula for children with rare metabolic disorders. We also operate a nationwide milk delivery service for elderly people living alone—providing not just nutrition but also emotional care. In essence, CSR is the way we bring our philosophy to life, turning values into real-world impact.

Can you tell us a little about some of your initiatives?
While campaigns such as Lunch Boxes of Love and Stay Warm in the Winter, and Share Love were meaningful past initiatives, Maeil Dairies now focuses on programmes that create long-term social impact. For example, the ‘Greeting Milk’ campaign addresses the rising issue of unattended deaths among elderly people in Korea. Through our daily milk delivery system, if a carton is left uncollected for over two days, our drivers alert local authorities. The programmes also includes regular wellness checks and product donations, making it both a nutritional and emotional support system.

What kinds of environmental and sustainability goals does Maeil Dairies have and what are you doing to achieve them? 
Sustainability is a key pillar of Maeil Dairies’ business strategy. We aim to reduce plastic usage by 10,000 tonnes by 2030 through innovations like label-free bottles, plant-based packaging, and strawless lids. We were also the first in the dairy sector in Korea to introduce r-PET (mechanically recycled plastic) in milk bottles. In collaboration with digital platforms, logistics partners, and paper recycling firms in Korea, we launched a carton collection programme that encourages consumers to return cartons through an easy, app-based process. Participants are rewarded with coupons and gifts, encouraging consumers to make recycling part of a rewarding and sustainable lifestyle. Our affiliate company, Sangha Farm, promotes sustainable food culture by upcycling surplus produce, such as creating melon pickles from discarded baby melons. These efforts reflect our commitment to a circular economy.

Through your selection for the SIAL For Change award, you are showing that it is possible to implement concrete and impactful social initiatives. What message would you like to convey to other companies that wish to follow in your footsteps?
We believe meaningful change starts with sincere action. At Maeil Dairies, consistent and heartfelt programmes like our ‘Greeting Milk’ campaign have created nationwide impact. By embedding empathy into everyday operations, companies can build trust and inspire change. We encourage others to approach CSR not just as a checkbox, but as a powerful way to align values, society, and business.

Since your participation in SIAL For Change in 2024 are there any specific initiatives Maeil Dairies has undertaken to further your CSR commitment?
Following our recognition at SIAL Paris, Maeil Dairies has taken meaningful steps to integrate CSR more deeply across the company. We strengthened ESG governance through cross-functional teams, enabling more structured and strategic planning and execution of initiatives. In parallel, we have increased communication around our CSR-linked products and campaigns, and expanded collaborations with local governments and digital platforms to drive public engagement.
Rather than pursuing one-off programmes, we’re focusing on building sustainable systems that reflect our core values and long-term vision.

Image credit: Pixabay – Pexels

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