Mega Efficient at Reducing Waste – Foodstuffs announces exceptional results
Foodstuffs NZ
"With 122 sites signed up to the programme we can report the
following highlights including an increase in the average waste
diversion rate from 64% to 84%, the diversion of 27.1 tonnes from
landfill per store in the month of August alone and the equivalent
of more than 3.2 million meals donated to local community foodbank
services in the last 12 months alone," says Steve Anderson,
Managing Director, Foodstuffs New Zealand.
"The team has really taken the mantra to heart that we are
guardians of both our community and the environment. We are
making huge inroads into reducing our impact on our surroundings,
all while ensuring that the most vulnerable in our communities
benefit as well."
Currently 122 sites have signed up the audited waste
minimisation programme with more coming on stream in the coming
months.
Anderson says, "When it comes to this issue our approach is
very, very simple. Reduce, re-use and recycle. Every team
member is involved in reducing waste in all its forms - it just
makes so much sense. Waste costs. It costs in terms of
environmental and social damage, it's expensive to remove and
affects the country in which we have the privilege to live and
work."
"Our waste diversion rate is very impressive. In terms of
tonnage we're looking at an estimated 32,300 tonnes of residual
waste prevented from ending up in landfill in the last 12 months.
As we extend the programme throughout the business the positive
impact will be increasingly felt by the business and local
Councils. We know that many Councils are looking at zero
waste targets, and we're playing our part in that ambition," says
Anderson.
Diverted waste is made up of approximately 61% tradeable
commodities (cardboard, paper and plastic film), 6% is other mixed
recyclables, 29% is bakery, produce and protein for repurposing or
reprocessing, and 4% is food donated for human consumption.
Foodstuffs has a number of sustainability initiatives in place
extending far beyond their recent commitment to phasing out
single-use plastic bags. The business was the first to
introduce 100% recyclable meat trays; Foodstuffs is a founding
partner in the Soft Plastics Recycling Programme accounting for two
thirds of the plastic collected; products are being reformulated to
remove or reduce plastic content and packaging; the business is
rolling out electric delivery vehicles, ensuring promotional
materials are 100% recyclable, and installing energy efficient
cooling systems which reduce the carbon footprint of a store by up
to 50%.
Anderson says, "New Zealand's future depends on all of us being
committed to treading lightly. We have been serving the
community for nearly 100 years. It's up to us to make sure
that we continue to do so sustainably, ensuring the New Zealand we
know and love is here for many hundreds of years to come."
