MILEI GmbH Invests €12 Million in Energy Efficiency to Cut Gas Use and Emissions

MILEI GmbH, a German manufacturing company specialized in high-quality milk and whey powders, is advancing its commitment to sustainability through a substantial investment aimed at reducing natural gas consumption and CO₂ emissions. With an energy-intensive production site in Leutkirch/Adrazhofen, consuming energy on a scale comparable to a medium-sized city, MILEI has launched a transformation plan prioritizing energy efficiency.

Since 2011, MILEI has operated a combined heat and power plant improving gas efficiency, and by 2025, it plans to complete the installation of new heat pumps designed to reclaim waste heat from production processes. These measures are part of a broader €12 million investment, including €3.5 million funded through a federal program, targeting a reduction of 45 gigawatt-hours of natural gas annually. This reduction is equivalent to the gas consumption of a city like Oberstdorf and translates into CO₂ savings comparable to the annual emissions of 4,000 cars.

CEO Jens Kutschera emphasized that sustainability is integral to the company’s ethos, evolving from its origins in upcycling whey components to a data-driven climate strategy. MILEI has also joined the Science Based Targets initiative, aligning its climate goals with international scientific standards to support transparency and effective emission reductions.

This comprehensive energy efficiency investment underscores MILEI’s leadership in demonstrating how traditional manufacturing practices can innovate and contribute meaningfully to environmental stewardship. The company serves a global client base in over 60 countries and recognizes sustainability as not only a competitive advantage but a market necessity.