About Arla 360
Arla 360 is Arla Foods' farm assurance and sustainability programme covering UK dairy suppliers. The programme explicitly references on-farm renewable energy installations as one of eight focus areas, with documented solar contributing to the producer-level sustainability rating that feeds Arla's overall supplier scorecard.
How farm solar supports Arla 360 certification
Solar PV directly supports Arla 360-certified operations in three ways: (1) Scope 2 emissions reduction — the kWh generated on-site replaces grid imports, creating auditable emissions reduction evidence; (2) supplier audit positioning — for Arla 360-certified farms supplying major UK retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S, Waitrose, Morrisons), the documented solar install supports CDP Supply Chain returns and direct retailer audits; (3) cost reduction supporting operational viability — energy is typically the third or fourth-largest operating cost for Arla 360-certified farms.
Documentation we provide for Arla 360 audits
Every install ships with audit-ready documentation: MCS commercial certificate; PVSyst annual yield model; annual generation report (kWh generated, consumed on-farm, exported); carbon factor reduction calculation showing Scope 2 reduction; trajectory documentation for ongoing SBTi/CDP submissions; 10-year IWA workmanship warranty; monitoring portal access for ongoing real-time data export. This documentation is portable across Arla 360, retailer audits, and any concurrent assurance schemes the farm participates in.
Typical Arla 360 solar install profile
Most certified farms we work with install 100-400 kW of rooftop PV across multiple buildings. Capex £80,000-£340,000 typical. Payback 4.5-7 years before AIA, 3-5 years after AIA. Combined with the audit-positioning value (which is increasingly contract-relevant), the overall economic case is strong.
How to integrate solar with Arla 360 renewal
For best timing: commission solar 12-24 months before a major Arla 360 renewal or audit cycle. This gives one full annual cycle of operational data for the audit. We coordinate timing with the farm's specific Arla 360 review schedule as part of project planning.
Common questions
Does our Arla 360 certification require us to install solar?
Not as a hard requirement — but Arla 360 increasingly references on-farm renewables in producer-level scorecards, and supplier audits using Arla 360-certified data benefit from documented solar generation.
What documentation does Arla 360 require?
Standard audit-ready package: MCS commercial certificate, annual generation report, carbon factor reduction calculation, trajectory documentation. We provide all of this as standard with every install.
Will solar affect our Arla 360 certification?
No — solar PV is compatible with all major UK farm assurance schemes. The certification continues unaffected by the install.
Can solar help with Arla 360-certified supplier audits?
Yes. For farms supplying major UK retailers through {a['name']}-certified routes, documented solar generation supports CDP Supply Chain returns, direct retailer audits, and contract retention conversations.