Fonterra has pledged to make all its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. The cooperative is also targeting zero solid waste to landfill by 2025.
The moves form part of the company’s wider efforts to reduce its environmental impact, which it said “has become increasingly important” as consumers are buying food that is made in a sustainable way.
Fonterra is already carrying out projects to recycle Anchor milk bottles into fence posts, and turn milk bottles into shampoo, conditioner and lotion bottles.
“Around 90% of our products sold in New Zealand already recyclable, which is great progress,” said Carolyn Mortland, Fonterra director of sustainability.
“But this new packaging target stretches across our global footprint, which means we are taking a good look at finding new ways to make, collect, recycle and reuse packaging. These new targets will require innovative thinking and working together to meet them.”
She added: “We believe in putting sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Across the co-op, our people are working hard to reduce waste and make our packaging as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible, while retaining our high food safety and quality standards.”
“Tackling the waste problem won’t be easy. But we can get there with a collective effort by everyone – from government, local and regional councils, businesses, scientists, community groups and consumers.”
In 2017, Fonterra announced a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, with a 30% reduction by 2030 from a 2015 baseline.
The company has partnered with the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment to develop an initiative towards a low emissions future. Fonterra said the partnership is an example of how the private and public sectors can work together to accelerate New Zealand’s transition to a low carbon economy.
Last year, the firm received funding from New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority to help fund the installation of new emissions-reducing technology at its Brightwater dairy.
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