Dean Foods Recognized by Carbon Disclosure Project for Climate Change Disclosure

DALLAS, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) announced today that it was commended by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for the company's disclosure of climate change information. This is the fourth year Dean Foods has reported information to the CDP and the third consecutive year the company has been featured in the CDP's Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index. Dean Foods is one of only nine Consumer Staples companies included in the CDP's annual leadership index. The CDP represents 551 institutional investors with $71 trillion in assets under management.

The CDP's Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index is a key component of CDP's annual S&P 500 report and highlights the companies within the S&P 500 Index that have displayed the most professional approach to corporate governance regarding climate change information disclosure practices. Companies are scored on their climate change disclosure and high scores indicate good internal data management and understanding of climate change related issues affecting the company.

Managing carbon emissions is a critical step in dealing with climate change issues. Investors and consumers are increasingly looking to companies to be transparent in reporting about the emissions they generate, and to take meaningful action to reduce their impact on the environment. PwC collects this information from participating companies on behalf of CDP and provides an evaluation tool for institutional investors and other stakeholders. The information is also available to the public. In 2011, the CDLI comprises 55 companies from the S&P 500 Index based on analysis of the responses to CDP's questionnaire which focused on greenhouse gas emissions, emissions reduction targets and risks and opportunities associated with climate change.

"Our success as a business depends on our ability to improve the efficiency of our operations and take costs out of our supply chain," said Gregg Tanner, Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer for Dean Foods. "Reducing carbon emissions – along with reductions in water usage and solid waste generation – helps us achieve that goal and is a key component of our environmental sustainability efforts. The recognition from the Carbon Disclosure Project is a welcome validation of the work we are doing across the company and around the world."

Paul Simpson, chief executive officer of the Carbon Disclosure Project, commented, "companies that make the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index have demonstrated good internal data management practices for understanding greenhouse gas emissions. They have shown a strong awareness of the business issues related to climate change including climate-related risks and opportunities. Those organizations that give clear consideration to measuring and reporting on climate change issues will be best placed to capitalize on the opportunities from managing them."

The S&P 500 report including names of companies featured in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index can be found at www.cdproject.net.  

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods is one of the leading food and beverage companies in the United States and a European leader in branded soy foods and beverages. The Company's Fresh Dairy Direct-Morningstar segment is the largest U.S. processor and distributor of milk, creamer, and cultured dairy products. These offerings are marketed under more than 50 local and regional dairy brands, as well as through private labels. The WhiteWave-Alpro segment produces and sells an array of branded dairy, soy and plant-based beverages and foods. WhiteWave brands, including Silk(R) soy and almond milk, Horizon Organic(R) milk and dairy products, International Delight(R) coffee creamers, and LAND O'LAKES(R) creamers, are category leaders and consumer favorites. Alpro is the pan-European leader in branded soy food products.

About CDP

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent not-for-profit organization holding the largest database of primary corporate climate change and water information in the world. Some 3,000 organizations across the world's largest economies now measure and disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and assessment of climate change risk and opportunity through CDP, in order that they can set reduction targets and make performance improvements. This data is gathered on behalf of 551 institutional investors, holding US$71 trillion in assets. For more information visit www.cdproject.net.

Contact: Liliana Esposito, Corporate Communications, +1-214-721-7766 or Investor Relations, Barry Sievert, +1-214-303-3437

SOURCE Dean Foods