Fonterra's Eco-Efficiency Programme

Throughout the world there are companies making announcements detailing how they are reducing their carbon footprint. In fact, if a company is to be taken seriously as an environmentally aware company, they will have had to make some sort of statement letting their business partners know of their position because the carbon footprint of the next company down the line is affected. Every now and then I like to highlight a company that has been doing its bit to be more eco-friendly.

There are many ways a company can go about reducing its carbon footprint. Fonterra Kauri, a dairy factory in Whangarei, New Zealand has managed to reduce its carbon footprint through a rigorous eco-efficiency programme.

Over the past year Fonterra Kauri has recycled 63 tonnes of plastic, cardboard and paper which has reduced the amount of waste going to landfill by 77 per cent. Over the entire Fonterra sites across the country there has been more than 5000 tonnes of recycled products which has effectively saved around 2700 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

As well as the recycling programme, Fonterra has introduced some changes in the way they go about their business in order to cut down on materials. For example, they have introduced a new milk sample carton using an electronic chip rather than a plastic label reducing more than 100 tonnes of plastic use each year. A new docketing system has also reduced printing requirements by 22 reams of paper nationwide each year.

The aim of Fonterra, who started their eco-efficiency programme in 2003, is to have reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill by 90 per cent by 2009. It’s all about being seen to be carbon footprint aware which will prompt more companies to follow suit.